Cessna 411 accident near Middlefield, Ohio, April 18, 1982
On April 18, 1982 at about 10:59 pm local time, a Cessna 411, registered N3228R, was destroyed in an accident near Middlefield, Ohio (Geauga Country airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 1982 · about 10:59 pm local time
- Place
- Middlefield, Ohio · Geauga Country · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 411 · all 411s on the register
- Registration
- N3228R · no longer on the register · serial 411-0228
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO PREPARE FOR A FAA PART 135 AIR TAXI CHECK RIDE WHICH WAS SCHEDULED LATER THAT WEEK. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED DURING THE APPROACH WITH ONE ENG SHUT DOWN. DURING THE TURN TO FINAL THE ACFT CRASHED 1/2 MI FROM RWY 28.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 100 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 5,800 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,126 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,640 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Chester Air CORP
The flight
- Departed from: 7G8 Middlefield OH at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 7G8 Middlefield OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 156°F (69°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.