Cessna 182L accident near Macon, North Carolina, August 2, 1991
On August 2, 1991 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182L, registered N3146R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Macon, North Carolina (Nocarva airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ACCURATELY JUDGE THE DISTANCE REQUIRED TO STOP THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE WET, GRASS RUNWAY SURFACE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1991 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Macon, North Carolina · Nocarva · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182L · all 182Ls on the register
- Registration
- N3146R · registry record · serial 18258546
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON THE 1900 FOOT GRASS STRIP, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE WHEEL BRAKES WERE NOT EFFECTIVE. HE COULD NOT BRING THE AIRPLANE TO A STOP IN THE REMAINING RUNWAY LENGTH. THE NOSE GEAR CONTACTED A DITCH AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLAPSED. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE AND FIREWALL RESULTED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GRASS WAS WET FROM DEW AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,035 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 935 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R25 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W98 Richmond VA at 10:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
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.