Cessna R182 accident near Abingdon, Virginia, February 4, 2024
On February 4, 2024 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna R182, registered N756ZW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Abingdon, Virginia (Virginia Highlands 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 failure to lower the airplane's landing gear prior to landing, which resulted in abnormal runway contact.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 2024 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Abingdon, Virginia · Virginia Highlands · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182, built 1979 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N756ZW · no longer on the register · serial R18201208
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a youth demonstration flight, the pilot became distracted looking for another airplane in the traffic pattern and sharing information with the young passengers. He subsequently forgot to lower the landing gear, and the airplane landed gear up, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident anomalies or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and added that he heard no cockpit warnings since he was wearing a noise cancelling headset.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
- Landing gear not configured during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,047 hours in all; 375 in this make and model; 184 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 14,684 as pilot in command; 1,742 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 11, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,619 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 2023; 67.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 1,101 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 4,471 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from VJI
Weather report (METAR): KVJI 042135Z AUTO 10009KT 10SM CLR 13/M06 A2981 RMK AO2 T01321060
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane as viewed from the front.
Photograph 2 – View of lower fuselage damage.
Photograph 3 – Close-up view of fuselage damage.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 4, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum of Record - Damage Assessment | 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.