Cessna 182G accident near Topeka, Kansas, August 8, 2003
On August 8, 2003 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182G, registered N2064R, was destroyed in an accident near Topeka, Kansas (Buena Terra airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were 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 resulting in a stall during takeoff. Contributing factors were the low altitude he was at during the takeoff, and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2003 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Topeka, Kansas · Buena Terra · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182G · all 182Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2064R · no longer on the register · serial 18255264
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed on impact with trees and terrain during takeoff. A witness stated, "After the run up, he started his take off roll. ... I noticed he was in trouble because he rotated very late and I could see the entire top of the A/C [aircraft]. He immediately pushed over to get more airspeed. The A/C was mushing along and fell off in a left wing low stall (I think he was stalled)." A passenger heard the stall warning horn go off, the airplane became airborne, and she heard the stall warning horn go off another time. She said that the wing dipped left and then hard right. The airplane seemed low to her. She stated that the engine did not sound right. She looked up and saw trees approaching. She reported that she recalled the plane going down and the airplane was not responding the way the pilot wanted. She said the airplane hit the ground and slid inverted. Local weather was: Wind 060 degrees at 3 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 33 degrees C; dew point 14 degrees C; altimeter 30.00 inches of mercury. The calculated local density altitude was 3,124 feet. The airport was a private, uncontrolled airport with two grass runways. The departure runway, 35, was 2,000 feet long and 80 feet wide. Runway 1/19 was 2,500 feet long. The propeller exhibited leading edge nicks and chordwise abrasions. A liquid that smelled like fuel was found in the left wing's fuel tank and in the gascolator. The flaps were found retracted. An on-scene examination revealed flight and engine control continuity. The engine produced a thumb compression at all cylinders when the engine crankshaft was rotated by hand. Both magnetos produced sparks at their spark plug wire ends when the magnetos were rotated by hand. No anomalies were detected. The owner's manual stated, "Using 20 [degrees] wing flaps reduces the ground run and total distance over the obstacle by approximately 20 per cent."
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,047 hours in all
- Last flight review: May 6, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,897.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 18, 2002; 51.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 33KS Topeka KS at 9:30 pm
- Destination: PTS Pittsburg KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,000 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from TOP, 5 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.