Cessna 182RG accident near Smithfield, Rhode Island, March 2, 1982
On March 2, 1982 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182RG, registered N1837R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Smithfield, Rhode Island (North Central 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 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
- March 2, 1982 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Smithfield, Rhode Island · North Central
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182RG · all 182RGs on the register
- Registration
- N1837R · no longer on the register · serial R182-00577
- 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, WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 33, A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT WAS EXPERIENCED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER. HE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY ON FIRM GRASS, BOUNCED AND CAME TO REST A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE DOWNWIND END OF THE RUNWAY. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE NOSE GEAR, PROPELLER, AND FIREWALL.
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: 920 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 753 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 456 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Harrisburg PA at 11:00 am
- Destination: Pawtucket RI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 33, 3,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.