Cessna 182M accident near Vandalia, Ohio, May 13, 1992
On May 13, 1992 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna 182M, registered N71879, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vandalia, Ohio (James M. Cox-Dayton Intl 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
CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY A PASSENGER DURING TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1992 · about 8:20 pm local time · cases in 1992
- Place
- Vandalia, Ohio · James M. Cox-Dayton Intl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182M · all 182Ms on the register
- Registration
- N71879 · registry record · serial 18259789
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 6R AND WAS TOLD TO HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY 36 FOR LANDING TRAFFIC. AT THE TIME OF THE CLEARANCE, THE WIND WAS COMING FROM A MAGNETIC HEADING OF 010 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 22 KNOTS. DURING THE FLARE/TOUCHDOWN ON RUNWAY 6R, THE RIGHT SEAT PASSENGER NOTICED AN AIRPLANE LANDING ON THE INTERSECTING RUNWAY. THE PASSENGER DID NOT KNOW THAT THE PILOT WAS AWARE OF THE CONVERGING TRAFFIC. SHE GRABBED THE PILOT'S ARM, INTERFERING WITH THE CONTROLS, AND SHOUTED THAT THERE WAS AN AIRPLANE IN FRONT OF THEM. CONSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED A FEW TIMES BEFORE A CONTROLLED ROLLOUT WAS ESTABLISHED. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FIREWALL, NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY, FUSELAGE AFT OF THE FIREWALL, AND PROPELLER. THE PILOT STATED THAT THIS ACCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE PASSENGER WAS WEARING A HEADSET.
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: 181 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 130 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,595 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 1992; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Polish Blue Aero, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PAH Paducah KY at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 6, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 13,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from DAY, 1 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N71879 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N71879 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 182 Skylane 11,834 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,684 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-470-R 107 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- James M Cox Dayton International · nearest airport
- Barkley Regional · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Ohio 1,884 since 1982 · 253 in the last ten years
- Ohio 8,529 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N71879 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/BFO92LA063.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.