Cessna 182A accident near Berea, Kentucky, April 2, 1994
On April 2, 1994 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N5868B, was destroyed in an accident near Berea, Kentucky (Berea-Richmond Lackey airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE TAKEOFF. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1994 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Berea, Kentucky · Berea-Richmond Lackey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N5868B · no longer on the register · serial 18233868
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT AND FOUR PARACHUTISTS WERE ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE AS IT TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF. THE WIND CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED BETWEEN 14 AND 16 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ADDED FULL POWER, ACHIEVED FLYING SPEED, ROTATED, AND BEGAN TO CLIMB OUT. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE THEN ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND IT DRIFTED INTO A TREE LOCATED ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS AND STATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE INITIATED THE FLIGHT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH WINDS.
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: 225 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 1993; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,400 ft by 160 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; not recorded at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from LEX, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 2 |
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.