Cessna 182R accident near Winder, Georgia, August 17, 2001
On August 17, 2001 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N2405E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Winder, Georgia (Winder-Barrow airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to fatigue failure of the number two piston immediately after takeoff, resulting in collision with trees and the terrain during an emergency descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2001 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Winder, Georgia · Winder-Barrow · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N2405E · registry record · serial 18268201
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructional flight had just lifted off following a touch and go landing when the engine started making loud, repetitive hammering noises, and power was lost. The private pilot-rated left seat occupant transferred aircraft control to the right seated CFI. The aircraft collided with the tops of two oak trees and came to rest, nose down, against the terrain. Engine factory disassembly of the engine revealed catastrophic failure of the number two piston. Engine factory metallurgical examination revealed the cause of the failure to be fatigue fracture emanating from the root of the number two piston ring groove.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,593 hours in all; 319 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 5,992 as pilot in command; 2,721 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 26, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 117 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 54 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,797 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2001; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Atlanta GA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: WDR Winder GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 3:57 pm from WDR, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.