Cessna 182 accident near South Charleston, West Virginia, October 12, 2024
On October 12, 2024 at about 6:32 pm local time, a 1975 Cessna 182, registered N1131M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near South Charleston, West Virginia (Mallory airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s decision to continue landing after encountering a strong tailwind, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2024 · about 6:32 pm local time
- Place
- South Charleston, West Virginia · Mallory · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 P, built 1975 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N1131M · registry record · serial 18264228
- 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 just before touching down on the 1,900-ft-long runway, the airplane was struck by a strong, unanticipated tailwind gust. The airplane subsequently touched down near the midpoint of the runway. The airplane then began to veer to the right and the pilot applied left brake to compensate. The airplane subsequently departed the runway surface to the right, near the departure end of the runway, and struck an embankment. The airplane’s fuselage and left elevator were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Other weather encounter during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Ability to respond/compensate
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,544 hours in all; 1,544 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 15, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Aerospace Technolo O-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 1,900 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from CRW, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCRW 101854Z 02007KT 10SM CLR 19/02 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP209 T01940022=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident Site Overview
Photograph 2 – Damage to the Fuselage from Right Side
Photograph 3 – Damage to the Left Elevator
Photograph 4 – Angle of Embankment Compared to the AirplaneThe 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on February 21, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Passenger Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | 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.