Cessna 182A accident near Lugoff, South Carolina, May 6, 1989
On May 6, 1989 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N4985D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lugoff, South Carolina (Lugoff airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SPEED FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL ON FINAL APPROACH. HIS EXCESSIVE USE OF FLAPS AND THE WIND CONDITIONS WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 1989 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lugoff, South Carolina · Lugoff · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N4985D · no longer on the register · serial 51085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS RETURNING TO LAND AFTER HAULING SKYDIVERS. HE RPRTD THAT WHILE ON A SHORT FINAL APCH TO LAND ON RWY 31 WITH 20 TO 30 DEG OF FLAPS EXTENDED, THE ACFT ENTERED A HIGH SINK RATE IN GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. HE SAID THAT HE LOWERED THE NOSE TO INCREASE SPEED & THAT HE PLANNED TO ARREST THE SINK RATE IN THE FLARE, BUT THEN 'THE BOTTOM FELL OUT' & THE ACFTCOLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE FLT MANUAL RECOMMENDED THAT IF THE RWY LENGTH PERMITTED, CROSSWIND LANDINGS SHOULD BE PERFORMED WITH THE FLAPS RETRACT. THE MANUFACTURER ESTIMATED THAT 560 FT WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO LAND THE ACFT ON A HARD SURFACE WITH NO WIND & 40 DEG OF FLAPS. THE RWY LENGTH WAS 2800 FT. THE PLT RPRTD THE WIND WAS VARIABLE FROM 240 TO 270 DEG WITH GUSTS TO 20 KTS. APRX 20 MI SOUTHEAST AT SHAW AFB, THE 1655 EDT WIND WAS RPRTD TO BE FROM 260 DEG AT 20 GUSTING 28 KTS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 1,156 as pilot in command; 543 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,932 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 6, 1988; 173 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lugoff Para-Flite Club, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 20 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from SSC, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4985D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.