Cessna 182Q accident near Ocala, Florida, July 28, 2001
On July 28, 2001 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N78234, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocala, Florida (Flying Dutchman airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper planning/decision and failure to properly judge takeoff distance, and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in the aircraft colliding with a fence at the end of the runway, and incurring substantial damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 2001 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ocala, Florida · Flying Dutchman · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N78234 · no longer on the register · serial 18266400
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that there were five people on board the aircraft, and he was attempting a soft field takeoff but the aircraft was not accelerating in ground effect. He said that with about a third of the runway left, he believed that he could easily stop the aircraft, but when he applied the brakes the aircraft did not slow down, so he aimed for what looked like the lowest part of the fence ahead of him. He said he was about to pull the mixture, when he decided to add power and jump the fence instead, and the aircraft struck the fence with the undercarriage and tail, incurring substantial damage. According to the pilot, prior to the accident there had been no mechanical failure or malfunction to the aircraft or any of its systems.
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
- Flight time: 420 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 293 as pilot in command; 80 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 19, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,002.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 2000; 54.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Cont O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Ocala FL at 12:15 pm
- Destination: PIE St Petersburg FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 3,000 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from OCF, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.