Cessna T182T accident near Lebanon, New Hampshire, February 9, 2012
On February 9, 2012 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna T182T, registered N6062E, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Lebanon, New Hampshire (Lebanon Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during a return to the airport after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 2012 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lebanon, New Hampshire · Lebanon Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T182T · all T182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N6062E · no longer on the register · serial T18208595
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff climb from runway 36, when the airplane was about 1/2 mile from the runway and at an altitude of 1,500 feet mean sea level, the pilot told the air traffic controller that he needed to return to land. He did not specify the nature of the problem. The pilot aligned the airplane for landing on runway 18 but was too high and fast to land. The airplane continued beyond the departure end of the runway and appeared to enter a modified downwind and base traffic pattern for runway 36. However, witnesses observed the airplane pass through the final approach and then make a sharp left turn back toward runway 36. During that turn, the airplane appeared to stall and subsequently impacted the grass east of runway 36. The airplane had been in a reasonable position to land on runway 36 before it passed through the final approach. No preimpact anomalies were noted with the airplane or engine. Examination of the engine revealed that the intake and exhaust springs were shorter than the length prescribed by the manufacturer. If the springs were in this condition before the accident, it is likely the pilot would have noticed some engine roughness. However, it is also possible that the springs may have lost tension during the postcrash fire. Testing of the fuel that was added to the airplane just before takeoff revealed no anomalies. The airplane had flown 8 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which occurred 3 months before the accident. It was unclear how much recent flight time the pilot had accumulated; his most recent logged experience was 3 months before the accident.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,051 hours in all; 591 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 959 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 19, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 583 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 2, 2011; 8 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AK1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LEB Lebanon NH at 6:40 pm
- Destination: LEB Lebanon NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from LEB
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.
Other NTSB records under N6062E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.