Cessna 182N accident near Wheatfield, Indiana, November 9, 2002
On November 9, 2002 at about 3:41 pm local time, a Cessna 182N, registered N253R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wheatfield, Indiana (Flying J Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not maintaining aircraft control and the pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting wind condition. Factors to the accident were the gusting wind condition and the inadvertent stall at a low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 2002 · about 3:41 pm local time
- Place
- Wheatfield, Indiana · Flying J Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182N · all 182Ns on the register
- Registration
- N253R · no longer on the register · serial 18260281
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on initial climb after takeoff the airplane encountered a wind gust, stalled, and subsequently impacted the terrain. The pilot stated he departed on runway 27 and encountered a "gust of wind from the south" and the airplane stalled. The pilot reported that he recovered from the stalled condition and then experienced another stall. The pilot stated he did not recover from the second stall prior to the impact with the terrain. At 1053 a weather observation station recorded the wind direction and speed as 200 degrees magnetic at 19 knots gusting to 24 knots.
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: 810 hours in all; 642 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 85 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 15, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,897.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 2002; 15.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IN61 Wheatfield IN at 3:41 pm
- Destination: IN61 Wheatfield IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,600 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 19 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from VPZ, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.