Cessna R182 accident near Reading, Pennsylvania, August 8, 2002
On August 8, 2002 at about 11:23 pm local time, a Cessna R182, registered N21PL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reading, Pennsylvania (Reading Regional/Carl A Spaatz airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Separation of a hydraulic line from its landing gear motor fitting.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2002 · about 11:23 pm local time
- Place
- Reading, Pennsylvania · Reading Regional/Carl A Spaatz · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N21PL · registry record · serial R18201983
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While entering the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to lower the landing gear, but was unable to do so. He reset the popped landing gear motor circuit breaker, and attempted a manual gear extension. He performed a tower fly-by, and was advised that the nose landing gear was down, but the main landing gear were up. The pilot then made an approach to the runway, shut down the engine prior to touch-down, and landed "nose high." The nose landing gear remained extended until the airplane slid to a stop. Post-flight examination of the airplane revealed that a hydraulic fluid line had separated from its landing gear motor fitting. The line exhibited no evidence of mechanical damage. The diameter of the separated end was slightly larger than the fitting. The line was installed when the airplane was manufactured. The airplane had accumulated 2,100 hours of operation.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 625 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 31, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2002; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDG Reading PA at 10:15 pm
- Destination: 5B2 Saratoga Spring NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 6,350 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from RDG
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.