Cessna 182 accident near Ionia, Michigan, May 22, 2020
On May 22, 2020 at about 11:18 pm local time, a 1958 Cessna 182, registered N5179D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Ionia, Michigan (Ionia County airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 maintain directional control during landing. Contributing was the pilot getting his shoe caught in the rudder pedal.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2020 · about 11:18 pm local time
- Place
- Ionia, Michigan · Ionia County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 A, built 1958 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5179D · registry record · serial 51279
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing an instrument approach to the runway following a local flight. The airplane was configured with full flaps and the pilot's intention was to perform a three-point landing. The wind was reported as calm; however, the pilot reported seeing smoke that indicated there was a light crosswind from the right. After touching down on the runway the tailwheel began to "shimmy violently," and the airplane began to drift to the left. The pilot applied rudder to get the airplane to track "a straight path" and then turned right to correct back to the runway's centerline. To recorrect to the centerline, the pilot applied full left rudder. At that point, either the pilot's "left shoe caught on something and jammed the pedal, or the left rudder pedal [became] stuck in the full left rudder position." The pilot couldn't move the pedal to maintain directional control and the airplane ground looped causing substantial damage to the right aileron and the right elevator. A postaccident examination showed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- factor Personnel issues › Miscellaneous › (general) › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 8,870 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 8,253 as pilot in command; 7,484 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 22, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 168 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 103 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 5, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,165.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-470-L (piston); 4,267 hours total
- Operator: School Of Missionary Aviation Technology
The flight
- Departed from: Y70 Ionia MI at 10:12 pm
- Destination: Y70 Ionia MI
- Runway 27, 4,298 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from KY70
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 31, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Airframe Examination Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Most Recent Maintenance Records | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Tailwheel Conversion Documents | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.