Cessna 182T accident near Franklin, Indiana, February 23, 2002
On February 23, 2002 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182T, registered N3533L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, Indiana (Franklin Flying Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The proper glidepath not attained, the excessive airspeed, and the pilot failed to attain clearance from the trees during the aborted landing. An additional factor was the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 2002 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Indiana · Franklin Flying Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182T · all 182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N3533L · no longer on the register · serial 18280992
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees during an aborted landing after it had skidded off the side of the runway during a full stop landing. The pilot reported he had been practicing simulated emergency landings over runway 21. He reported he performed a simulated emergency landing to a full stop on runway 21. He reported that on that landing, he applied full brakes and landed on runway 21, but also used about 100 feet of grass beyond the end of the runway to stop. He reported he attempted another simulated emergency landing to runway 21 with a full stop using maximum braking. He reported his airspeed was too high. He reported, "I tried braking but the plane seemed to want to veer toward the right fuel pumps and hangars. Then I decided to engage full power and take off. I was to close to [the] end of the runway #21 and I elected to place plane in brush/trees instead of a head on in ditch/road at end of grass area of #21. About 300 feet. (The airplane almost cleared trees but no such luck.)" The pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction of the airplane. The pilot did not have a current biennial flight review. The pilot's medical was valid only for student pilot privileges.
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: 600 hours in all; 360 in this make and model; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 24 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 2001; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,110 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3FK Franklin IN at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,400 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 23,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from IND, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.