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Accidents · NTSB NYC08CA119 · Final report

Cessna 182Q accident near S.Charleston, West Virginia, March 2, 2008

On March 2, 2008 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N97514, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near S.Charleston, West Virginia (Mallory 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 pilot's failure to obtain a proper touchdown point. Contributing to the accident was the windshear as reported by the pilot.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
March 2, 2008 · about 7:00 pm local time
Place
S.Charleston, West Virginia · Mallory Airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
Registration
N97514 · no longer on the register · serial 18267118
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

After completing a short cross-country flight, the pilot returned to the private airport where he based his Cessna 182Q. The airport was surrounded by terrain obstructions, and as a consequence, an operational restriction existed which required him to land to the north. After joining the traffic pattern to land in the required direction, he flew the downwind leg to the 2,000-foot long runway and "checked the windsock." He then turned on the base leg of the traffic pattern, approximately 1.5 miles from the runway threshold. The wing flaps were selected to the 20-degree position, and he turned on to the final leg. Approximately .8 mile from touchdown, the airplane encountered windshear and lost about 17 knots of indicated airspeed. The pilot applied "full power" and was able to re-stabilize the approach. The pilot reduced engine power once again and the "wind sheared to the tail" of the airplane just prior to touchdown, and the indicated airspeed increased approximately 15 knots. The airplane touched down "approximately 600 feet from the runway end," overran the runway, and the nose wheel dug into the "mud." The pilot then released the backpressure on the control wheel, and the airplane nosed over, damaging the propeller, both wings, the right wing strut, and the vertical stabilizer. The reported wind at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, was from 200 degrees at 5 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

What happened, in order

  1. Other weather encounter during approach (VFR pattern final)
  2. Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
  3. Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
  4. Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)

The NTSB's findings

  • factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Not specified
  • cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
  • Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy terrain › Not specified

Pilot

  • Certificate: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 1,519 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,198 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: July 1, 2007
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,634 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2007
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: GAS Gallipolis OH at 6:30 pm
  • Destination: WV12 S.Charleston WV
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 33, 2,000 ft by 24 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
  • Observation at 6:54 pm from CRW, 8 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1
Passengers1

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.