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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CONTROL INTERFERENCE BY A PASSENGER DURING TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1992 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Vandalia, Ohio · James M. Cox-Dayton Intl · 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 |
Other NTSB records under N71879 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number BFO92LA063.