Cessna 177B accident near Chesterfield, Virginia, June 18, 2002
On June 18, 2002 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N2182C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chesterfield, Virginia (Chesterfield County). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing at night.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2002 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Chesterfield, Virginia · Chesterfield County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2182C · registry record · serial 17702749
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said the purpose of the flight was to get current with night landings. On final approach to the 5,500 foot long paved runway in calm wind, the pilot said the airplane was high so he increased the angle of descent. Upon touchdown, the airplane landed hard and porpoised several times. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 634 hours in all; 488 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 581 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 9, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,797.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 2002; 2.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FCI Chesterfield VA
- Destination: FCI Chesterfield VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.