Cessna 182R accident near North English, Iowa, March 22, 2003
On March 22, 2003 at about 9:44 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N6211E, was destroyed in an accident near North English, Iowa (White Pigeon Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall. Contributing to the accident was the CFI's improper decision to attempt to takeoff from a short, grass taxiway instead of departing from a runway aligned with the prevailing winds, the short, grass taxiway, the crosswind, trees, and transmission wires.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 2003 · about 9:44 pm local time
- Place
- North English, Iowa · White Pigeon Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N6211E · no longer on the register · serial 18268352
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed by impact forces after a loss of control while attempting to avoid a power line and trees during takeoff climb from a grass taxiway (1,000 feet by 70 feet). The pilot receiving training reported that he and the certified flight instructor (CFI) briefed the flight and conducted an aircraft preflight. He reported the purpose of the flight was to practice dead reckoning navigation, and to do a grass strip landing. He reported that the airplane operated normally and there were no indications of mechanical difficulty. He reported the airplane touched down within 150 feet of the south end of the taxiway and he made a full stop landing. He back taxied and then performed a "short field" takeoff. He attempted to lift off at 65 knots indicated airspeed about one-half way down the taxiway, but the "aircraft was not climbing." He reported that the CFI came on the controls during the climb out. He recalled seeing the orange balls on the power lines located at the north end of the taxiway, and he heard the stall warning horn sounding. The airplane veered to the left, and then the right side of the airplane impacted the terrain. The Pilot's Operating Handbook indicated that the required takeoff distance to clear a 50 foot obstacle from a grass airstrip on a 15 degree Celsius day required approximately 1,409 feet. Runway 9/27 at the private airstrip was 2,400 feet by 70 feet. The prevailing wind at the time of the accident was 280 degrees at 10 knots. The inspection of the airplane revealed no pre-existing anomalies.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,126 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 908 as pilot in command; 182 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 26, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 238 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 178 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 30, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,148 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 2002; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,110 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U(17) (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IKV Ankeny IA at 9:05 pm
- Destination: OTM Ottumwa IA
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from PEA, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
