Cessna 182T accident near Mackinac Island, Michigan, August 5, 2013
On August 5, 2013 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna 182T, registered N3559E, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Mackinac Island, Michigan (Mackinac Island airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed response to abort the takeoff, which resulted in an excursion and collision with a fence. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to check the pitot tube for debris during preflight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2013 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Mackinac Island, Michigan · Mackinac Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182T · all 182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N3559E · registry record · serial 18281010
- 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 during the takeoff roll the airplane visually appeared and felt to be accelerating normally, but the airspeed indicator never increased above 40 knots. The pilot aborted the takeoff when the airplane was halfway down the runway. The pilot said he used brakes to decelerate but the airplane was skidding on the wet runway. The pilot was unable to stop and went off the runway and collided with a wood fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the right elevator. Examination of the airplane found the pitot tube was filled with debris. According to the operator, the airplane was not equipped with a pitot tube cover.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 223 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 14, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,021.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Greater Flint Pilots Association INC
The flight
- Departed from: MCD Mackinac Island MI at 10:50 pm
- Destination: Davisburg MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,501 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N3559E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.