Cessna 182L accident near Weedsport, New York, March 10, 1996
On March 10, 1996 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182L, registered N3407R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Weedsport, New York (Whitfords airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's decision to takeoff on a closed snow-covered runway, and his inadequate compensation for a crosswind. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of recent flying experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 1996 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Weedsport, New York · Whitfords · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182L · all 182Ls on the register
- Registration
- N3407R · no longer on the register · serial 18258707
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner kept his airplane at an airport that did not have fuel service. The pilot, with three adults and one infant, departed and flew to another airport to fuel the airplane. The pilot landed on runway 28, a 2,800 foot sod strip, which was covered with 6 to 8 inches of snow. The pilot refueled the airplane, and taxied out to runway 01, a 1,600 foot sod strip. Runway 01 was also snow covered, and had a path cleared down the middle about 16 feet wide. The pilot started the takeoff roll and rotated the airplane about 1,200 feet down the runway. After liftoff, the airplane drifted left, where the left main gear struck a snow bank and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that he did not have the experience to takeoff on the narrow runway with the crosswind condition. The airport had been NOTAM closed due to snow covered runways. Winds reported at an airport 20 miles east of the departure airport were from 290 degrees at 10 knots. The pilot's total flying experience was about 135 hours, and he had not flown in the previous 90 days.
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: 135 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 91 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,414 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 1995; 35 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: B16 at 10:30 pm
- Destination: MPV Montpelier VT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from SYR, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.