Cessna 182Q accident near Donnelly, Idaho, August 20, 2022
On August 20, 2022 at about 1:45 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna 182Q, registered N735DU, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Donnelly, Idaho (Elk Ridge 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 improper decision to takeoff from a wet grass runway which did not allow for adequate braking traction when the pilot aborted the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2022 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Donnelly, Idaho · Elk Ridge Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q, built 1977 · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N735DU · registry record · serial 18265349
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, he performed a soft field takeoff on the wet grass airstrip. The airplane was just below rotation speed as he approached midfield and moments later the airplane lifted off momentarily, then settled back to the ground. The pilot chose to abort the takeoff just past midfield and applied braking action. The airplane did not have enough braking traction due to the wet surface and subsequently ran off the end of the airstrip, collided with a fence and came to rest nose first in a canal. The engine mount and firewall were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet surface › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 275 hours in all; 142 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 193 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,725.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2021; 127 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L/O-470 (piston); 127 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ID76 Donnelly ID at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,260 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 am from KMYL, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMYL 201351Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 13/10 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP141 T01280100=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 22, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.