Cessna 182S accident near Fishers, Indiana, August 28, 2002
On August 28, 2002 at about 4:43 pm local time, a Cessna 182S, registered N4183N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fishers, Indiana (Indianapolis Metro 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 failed to maintain clearance with the light pole while taxiing. A factor was the light pole.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2002 · about 4:43 pm local time
- Place
- Fishers, Indiana · Indianapolis Metro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182S · all 182Ss on the register
- Registration
- N4183N · registry record · serial 18280150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The left wing contacted a light pole during taxi. The pilot had taxied the airplane to the runway in preparation for takeoff when a passenger reported feeling ill. The pilot taxied back to the ramp to deplane the passenger and was turning into a tie down spot when the wing contacted a light pole located 10 feet off the edge of the pavement.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 477 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 37 in the last 30 days; 443 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 27, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,059 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 2002; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Indianapolis Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: UMP Fishers IN
- Destination: FRH French Lick IN
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from IND, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.