Cessna 182 accident near Forest, Virginia, June 29, 1999
On June 29, 1999 at about 1:40 am local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5481B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Forest, Virginia (New London 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 misjudgment of distance/speed, also causal was his failure to execute a go-around. Contributing factors were the night conditions and the tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1999 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Forest, Virginia · New London Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5481B · no longer on the register · serial 33418
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before departing, the pilot referred to the Airport Facilities Directory to check the runway length at his destination. On arrival, he checked the windsock and determined that there was a direct crosswind, and decided to land on Runway 34, a 3,164-foot long runway. The pilot intentionally planned for a higher approach because of the 'limited light, and terrain.' As the airplane landed on Runway 34, about 60-65 MPH, with 30 degrees of flaps, the pilot noticed the gas pumps and hangers located on the northwest side of the airport abeam the airplane to his left. The airplane bounced once, began to float, and touched down again with about 240 feet of runway remaining. The pilot attempted to use maximum baking, but could not stop. The fuel pumps and hangers were located in a position that corresponded to about 800 feet remaining on Runway 34.
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: 468 hours in all; 185 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 408 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ROA Roanoke VA at 1:00 am
- Destination: W90
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,164 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 am from LYH, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.