Cessna 182K accident near Orient, New York, March 31, 1999
On March 31, 1999 at about 2:21 pm local time, a Cessna 182K, registered N3035Q, was destroyed in an accident near Orient, New York (Rose Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 1999 · about 2:21 pm local time
- Place
- Orient, New York · Rose Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182K · all 182Ks on the register
- Registration
- N3035Q · no longer on the register · serial 18258035
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he set 15 to 20 degrees flaps, and that during the takeoff, he 'crabbed' the airplane to the right, into the wind. The airplane rotated at 65 miles per hour, 'crabbed more into the wind, climbed to 100 feet, and started to sink.' The pilot lowered the airplane's nose to gain airspeed, but it veered left, struck a tree, and flipped over. A passenger stated that after takeoff, and about 25 feet of altitude, the airplane went into a 'steeper than usual' left bank. It then 'lost altitude and crashed.' The pilot stated that the airplane was operating properly, and that he had flown out of the same airfield many times under the same conditions, even at night, without runway lighting. The airplane took off with a maximum crosswind component velocity of 18 knots. The maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity, which was not a limitation, was 11 miles per hour. The Owner's Manual stated that 'strong crosswind' takeoffs are normally made at the minimum flap setting for field length, and that the airplane is accelerated to a slightly higher takeoff speed, then pulled off the ground abruptly to prevent settling back to the runway should a wind drift occur.
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: 1,466 hours in all; 1,116 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2NK3 at 2:21 pm
- Destination: 5B9 Haverhill NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,100 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:14 pm from FOK, 22 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.