Cessna 182 accident near Elba, Alabama, October 28, 2018
On October 28, 2018 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1978 Cessna 182, registered N20BK, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Elba, Alabama (Carl Folsom airport). It was an instructional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A leak in the pitot-static system for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in an airspeed indication error, an aborted takeoff, and a subsequent runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 2018 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Elba, Alabama · Carl Folsom · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 Q, built 1978 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N20BK · registry record · serial 18266347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll on an instructional flight, the instructor noticed that the airspeed was not increasing above 50 knots. He aborted the takeoff, during which the airplane overran the runway end and collided with a berm, resulting in substantial damage. The airplane was recovered for examination and a pitot-static system test revealed significant errors in airspeed indication due to a leak in the system. The airplane’s maintenance logs were not provided for review, and the maintenance history of the pitot-static system could not be determined.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › (general) › (general) › Malfunction
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,400 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 4,850 as pilot in command; 1,230 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 19, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,389 hours in all; 36 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 2,356 as pilot in command; 1,867 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 23, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,071 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 2018; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 SERIES (piston); 120 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 14J Elba AL at 8:00 pm
- Destination: MKL Jackson TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 3,050 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:44 pm from KLOR, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA19LA031.