Cessna 182G accident near Lake Wales, Florida, April 16, 1982
On April 16, 1982 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182G, registered N3212S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Wales, Florida (Lake Wales 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1982 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Wales, Florida · Lake Wales · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182G · all 182Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3212S · registry record · serial 18255712
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ON SHORT FINAL THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO POWER INCREASES AND REMAINED AT IDLE SPEED. THE PILOT SWERVED AROUND A BUILDING AND DOVE THE AIRCRAFT UNDER WIRES FINALLY COMING TO REST IN A DITCH. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM GASCOLATOR REVEALED THAT IT WAS PARTIALLY FILLED WITH WATER AND DIRT. THE CARBURETOR BOWL SHOWED SIGNS OF THE CORROSIVE EFFECTS AND SEDIMENTS NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCUMULATION OF WATER.
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: student
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,542 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 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: Kissimmee FL at 10:07 am
- Destination: Lake Wales FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 178°F (81°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from LAL, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.