Cessna 182 accident near Nashville, Tennessee, March 17, 1995
On March 17, 1995 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N1815X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nashville, Tennessee (John C. Tune 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 IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS DURING TAKEOFF WHICH RESULTED IN THE INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 1995 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nashville, Tennessee · John C. Tune · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N1815X · no longer on the register · serial 182250915
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF, THE PILOT'S FLIGHT CONTROL INPUTS RESULTED IN A SERIES OF PORPOISES AFTER THE AIRPLANE HAD CLIMBED ABOUT EIGHT FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING THE FORTH OSCILLATION THE NOSE WHEEL AND PROPELLER ASSEMBLIES STRUCK THE PAVED RUNWAY SURFACE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR COMPONENT FAILURE.
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: 132 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 54 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,047 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 21, 1994; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-R15 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JWE at 9:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Observation at 10:50 pm from JWN
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.