Cessna 182G accident near Arcadia, New York, May 4, 2013
On May 4, 2013 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182G, registered N2143R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Arcadia, New York (Private Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to continue a high approach with a tailwind, rather than perform a go-around, which resulted in an overrun on a wet, down-sloping, grassy runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2013 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Arcadia, New York · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182G · all 182Gs on the register
- Registration
- N2143R · no longer on the register · serial 18255343
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was attempting to land on a 2,800-foot-long turf runway. He planned on landing to the north due to obstacles along the southerly direction of landing. The pilot added that he approached with about a 5-knot tailwind but the wind was not a factor. He further stated that on final approach, the airplane was a little high. During the flare, the airplane floated longer than the pilot expected. At that time, he did not want to perform a go-around due to power lines at the departure end of the runway. The airplane subsequently touched down about halfway down the runway, and the pilot thought that he had adequate distance to stop; however, the grass was wet and the runway had a downslope. The airplane traveled off the end of the runway, and the pilot veered left in an attempt to avoid power line poles, but the right wing struck a pole, sustaining substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. He added that he would have performed a go-around if he knew the grass was wet and the runway had a downslope.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Wet › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 128 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 127 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 2, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,899 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 2012; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0G7 Seneca Falls NY at 11:30 am
- Destination: NONE Arcadia NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 2,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 am from ROC, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 23, 2013. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photograph # 1: Right Wing Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.