Cessna 182E accident near Galion, Ohio, May 25, 2015
On May 25, 2015 at about 2:50 pm local time, a 1961 Cessna 182E, registered N25AW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Galion, Ohio (Galion Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 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 maintain adequate airspeed on final approach, which resulted in an in-flight loss of control and hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2015 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Galion, Ohio · Galion Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182E E, built 1961 · all 182Es on the register
- Registration
- N25AW · registry record · serial 18253616
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the final approach, the pilot reported encountering turbulence and wind gusts. As the airplane crossed the runway threshold, the indicated airspeed reduced to 65 miles per hour, the stall warning horn sounded, and the airplane stalled. The pilot pushed the nose forward to regain control, but the airplane impacted the runway hard causing substantial damage to the firewall. After the landing, the pilot was able to taxi to the ramp without further incident. The reported winds at a nearby airport about the time of the accident were from 200 degrees true at 16 knots, gusting to 23 knots. The pilot reported 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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Stall warn/stick-shaker/pusher during landing
- Loss of lift during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 205 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 121 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,350.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSU Columbus OH at 2:10 pm
- Destination: GQQ Galion OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,504 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from KMFD, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| LapC | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on July 6, 2015. 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 | Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1 – Underside of Airplane (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2 – Airplane Firewall (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.