Cessna TR182 accident near Willoughby, Ohio, November 27, 2002
On November 27, 2002 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna TR182, registered N4929S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willoughby, Ohio (Willoughby Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to select the alternator to the "ON" position before initiating the flight. A factor in the accident was the tailwind which resulted in the overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 2002 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Willoughby, Ohio · Willoughby Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N4929S · no longer on the register · serial R18201468
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after departing, the pilot started to experience an electrical problem, and then a complete loss of electrical power. While maneuvering to land at his departure airport, the pilot selected the landing gear to the "DOWN" position, and ultimately "FULL" flaps. The airplane touched down on runway 05, with the landing gear partially extended approximately 3,700 feet down the 5,028-foot long runway, and overran the end by approximately 100 feet. Examination of the airplane confirmed flight control continuity to all the flight control surfaces, and a landing gear operational check revealed no anomalies. An engine run was then performed. The engine functioned normally and engine control continuity was confirmed. The electrical master switch was a split rocker type, the left side controlled the alternator, and the right controlled the battery. With the engine operating, the alternator was turned off. It quit charging, and the battery picked up the load. The alternator was then turned back on. It picked up the load, and started charging the battery. The alternator was required to be in the "ON" position during normal operations. Winds were reported to be from 270 degrees at 20 knots.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 596 hours in all; 336 in this make and model; 596 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 2, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,448.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 2002; 18.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNN Willoughby OH at 11:30 pm
- Destination: LUK Cincinnati OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5, 5,028 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from CGF, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.