Cessna 182 accident near Swainsboro, Georgia, June 30, 2018
On June 30, 2018 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2004 Cessna 182, registered N6167L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Swainsboro, Georgia (East Georgia Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's unstabilized approach during the initial landing with a right quartering tailwind, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent go-around and the collapse of the nose landing gear during the subsequent landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2018 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Swainsboro, Georgia · East Georgia Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 T, built 2004 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N6167L · registry record · serial 18281380
- 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 rain showers were present near his destination airport, so he diverted and landed at a nearby airport. He added that, during the approach, he felt the airplane was being pushed forward and saw an increase in indicated airspeed and nose-down attitude. He continued the approach, and upon touchdown, the airplane landed hard on the nosewheel first and bounced, so he initiated a go-around. He then re-entered the pattern, approached the same runway, and upon touchdown, the nose landing gear (NLG) collapsed, and airplane exited the runway to the left into a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the NLG tunnel. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station (AWOS) reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 100° at 7 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 32. The pilot reported that he believed the NLG was damaged during the initial landing. He added that, after landing, the windsock was found to be damaged and that it was not indicating the wind direction properly. However, the airport's AWOS was accessible by radio.
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 approach
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I69 Batavia OH at 6:00 pm
- Destination: CRG Jacksonville FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 6,021 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KSBO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 28, 2019. 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 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Photo | 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.