Cessna 182RG accident near Concord, North Carolina, March 5, 1994
On March 5, 1994 at about 2:35 pm local time, a Cessna 182RG, registered N738CK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Concord, North Carolina (Chalfant airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION, IN THAT HE DID NOT CONSIDER THE EFFECTS OF A WET, GRASS RUNWAY ON AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE. FACTORS WERE THE WET, GRASS CONDITIONS OF THE RUNWAY SURFACE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 1994 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- Concord, North Carolina · Chalfant · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182RG · all 182RGs on the register
- Registration
- N738CK · registry record · serial R18200911
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE TAKING OFF FROM A 2,700 FOOT LONG GRASS AIRSTRIP. HE REPORTED THAT THE RUNWAY WAS WET FROM A RECENT RAIN. HIS USUAL PRACTICE WHEN TAKING OFF TO THE SOUTH IS TO PERFORM A RUNUP IN FRONT OF THE HANGAR, WHICH IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE NORTH END OF THE RUNWAY, THEN MAKE A ROLLING TAKEOFF FROM THAT POSITION. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE FELT THAT THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED SLUGGISHLY, AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AFTER THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REACH EXPECTED AIRSPEEDS. UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE WET GRASS, HE GROUND LOOPED THE AIRCRAFT. HE REPORTED TO AN FAA INSPECTOR THAT HE DID NOT CONSIDER THE EFFECTS OF THE WET RUNWAY ON AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE WAS TEST-RUN FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT WITH SATISFACTORY RESULTS.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 346 hours in all; 226 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 294 as pilot in command; 65 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,837 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 1993; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 37W Erwin NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from CLT, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.