Cessna 182J accident near Brevard, North Carolina, December 1, 2002
On December 1, 2002 at about 3:25 pm local time, a Cessna 182J, registered N3529F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brevard, North Carolina (Transylvania County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the jamming of the elevator control system for undetermined reason, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway, and impacting with a ditch, during the aborted takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 1, 2002 · about 3:25 pm local time
- Place
- Brevard, North Carolina · Transylvania County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N3529F · no longer on the register · serial 182-51529
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot during the takeoff roll the control yoke would not pull back to become airborne. He aborted the takeoff, at a point about two-thirds of the way down the 2,903-foot runway, and applied the brakes. The airplane departed the departure end of the runway, hit a ditch, and turned about 180 degrees opposite the direction of travel. Examination of the airplane's controls revealed control continuity the to ailerons and rudder. Elevator continuity was confirmed up to the baggage compartment. Due to impact damage to the forward fuselage area, continuity could not be confirmed to the yoke assembly. The bent control lock pin was found on the floorboard between the seats.
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
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 370 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 28, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,024.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 2002; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Brevard NC at 2:25 pm
- Destination: EET Alabaster AL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 2,903 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from KAVL, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.