Cessna 182P accident near Chatham, Massachusetts, December 11, 1997
On December 11, 1997 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N20710, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chatham, Massachusetts (Chatham Municipal 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
loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). The tail wind component and an encounter with a ditch were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 11, 1997 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Chatham, Massachusetts · Chatham Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N20710 · no longer on the register · serial 18261146
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was departing from runway 6, a 3,001 foot asphalt runway. According to the pilot, during rotation, the airplane's engine lost power. He then retarded the throttle and mixture control, and the airplane returned to the runway. The pilot applied heavy braking and elevator back pressure; however, the airplane continued past the departure end of the runway and went into a ditch. Examination of the airplane, which included an engine run-up, did not reveal any evidence of mechanical malfunction. Winds at the airport were reported to be from 300 degrees at 4 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,913 hours in all; 1,843 in this make and model; 134 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,264 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 24, 1997; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CQX at 10:15 pm
- Destination: EWB New Bedford MA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 6, 3,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from CQX
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.