Cessna 182K accident near Branson West, Missouri, October 30, 2011
On October 30, 2011 at about 4:11 pm local time, a Cessna 182K, registered N2893R, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Branson West, Missouri (Branson West Municipal 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
The pilot's failure to ensure that his seat was in a locked position before takeoff, which resulted in the seat sliding rearward and the subsequent loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 2011 · about 4:11 pm local time
- Place
- Branson West, Missouri · Branson West Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182K · all 182Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2893R · no longer on the register · serial 18258493
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the pilot seat released and slid rearward during the takeoff roll. He said that he reduced engine power and could still reach the rudder pedals but could not actuate the brakes. Subsequently, the airplane went off the runway and struck a drainage ditch. The airplane's seat mechanism was the subject of a 2011 Airworthiness Directive, which had been complied with during the airplane's most recent annual inspection. Postaccident examination of the seat mechanism revealed no anomalies. Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the pilot failed to ensure that his seat was in a locked position before takeoff, which allowed it to slide rearward during the takeoff roll.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Seat/cargo attach fitting › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,581 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,581 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,362 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 12, 2011
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Brigman Productions INC
The flight
- Departed from: FWB Branson West MO
- Destination: HUT Hutchinson KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from KBBG, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.