Cessna 182A accident near Galax, Virginia, April 24, 2011
On April 24, 2011 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N4920D, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Galax, Virginia (Twin County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind while on approach for landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2011 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Galax, Virginia · Twin County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N4920D · no longer on the register · serial 51020
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was conducting a visual approach for a full-stop landing with a gusting wind. The airplane experienced a sudden loss of altitude while on final approach and the pilot realized that he would land short of the runway. The airplane impacted terrain approximately 1,000 feet short of the runway threshold, resulting in substantial damage to the forward fuselage and engine firewall. The pilot sustained a concussion during the impact and was unable to recall the events of the accident subsequent to the loss of altitude. A pilot-rated witness saw the airplane on a one-quarter mile final approach, and observed it bank to the right between 45-60 degrees, then bank to the left about 20 degrees, with an approximate 30-degree nose-high attitude. The airplane appeared to stall and then disappeared from his view. Both the pilot and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident stated that there were no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Windshear or thunderstorm during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 400 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,654 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: N4920D LLC
The flight
- Departed from: ROA Roanoke VA at 6:05 pm
- Destination: HLX Galax VA
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from HLX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.