Cessna 182 accident near Athens, Tennessee, July 6, 2015
On July 6, 2015 at about 6:19 pm local time, a 2002 Cessna 182, registered N234CF, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Athens, Tennessee (Mcminn County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the taxiway surface due to a sink hole, which resulted in the right main landing gear sinking into terrain causing substantial damage to the fuselage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2015 · about 6:19 pm local time
- Place
- Athens, Tennessee · Mcminn County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 T, built 2002 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N234CF · registry record · serial 18281076
- 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 while taxiing to the active runway, about 50 yards ahead, he saw what appeared to be a black oval, 4-5 feet in diameter on the taxiway. He stated that he believed it was a wet spot or an area of new pavement, and started to steer around it. As the pilot approached the spot, he reported that he glanced off to the left and saw sink holes in the field, then he looked back towards the taxiway and suddenly the airplane sank into the taxiway. The airplane came to a stop after the right wheel fell into the sink hole and the fuselage impacted the taxiway surface. The hole had opened up to about 9-10 feet across and 7-8 feet deep. The fuselage was substantially damaged in the accident. During a postaccident interview, the airport manager stated that she was unaware of sink holes on any safety areas at the airport, including this taxiway. After the accident, the airport immediately issued a notice to airmen closing the taxiway. The pilot stated 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
- Miscellaneous/other during taxi defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Taxiway condition › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Fuselage main structure › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 110 hours in all; 20.2 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 13, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,923.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 17, 2015; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,110 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 (piston); 2,963 hours total
- Operator: Crystal Air, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: MMI Athens TN at 6:15 pm
- Destination: MMI Athens TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,900 ft; a few clouds at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from KRZR, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 12, 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 | Record of Conversation (Airport Manager) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 – Airplane and Sinkhole (Courtesy of Operator) | 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.