National Transportation Safety Board

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report

Location: Lincolnton, GA Accident Number: ERA20LA329

Date & Time: September 22, 2020, 17:12 Local Registration: N2601Q
Aircraft: Cessna 182 Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted
Under:

On September 22, 2020, at 1712 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182 airplane, N2601, was substantially
damaged when it was involved in an accident in Lincolnton, Georgia. The private pilot was fatally
injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) tracking data revealed that the pilot departed
Cherokee County Regional Airport (CNI), Canton, Georgia about 1530. He flew to Barrow County
Regional Airport (WDR) Winder, Georgia, and remained there for about 30 minutes. He then departed
for his home airport, a private field in Lincolnton, Georgia, at 1638.

About 1710, the airplane approached a field and pond located on land owned by the pilot’s family, about
3 miles south of the private airport. A witness who was mowing the grass surrounding the pond reported
that the airplane flew “low” towards him and then over the pond in the pilot’s “standard ‘I’m home’ fly
by.” Another witness who was also mowing around the pond, reported that the airplane “buzzed the
pond” at an altitude of less than 60 ft above the ground. The airplane then “pulled up to normal flying
altitude” and circled in a left turn before it approached the pond a second time. The witness estimated
that as the airplane approached the pond its altitude was less than 50 ft above the ground. At one point,
the airplane flew between two groups of trees with its right wing pointing “almost straight up in the air.”
The airplane struck the ground at the edge of the pond, and briefly became airborne again before it
impacted the water and came to rest partially submerged. The second witness did not observe the impact
due to trees obstructing his view, however he reported that the sound of the engine was “steady” until he
heard a “thump” followed by a “shoosh” which he surmised was the impact with the ground and then the
water.

Examination of the accident site by two FAA inspectors revealed that the airplane sustained severe
impact and crush damage forward of the empennage. Both wings were separated from the fuselage and
sustained leading edge damage. The engine remained attached to the fuselage. The propeller assembly
(both blades and hub) was separated from the flange. One propeller blade was twisted and bent about
mid span, the other blade was slightly bent near the root and slightly twisted near the tip.

Page 1 of 2 ERA20LA329
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
The airplane was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna Registration: N2601Q

Model/Series: 182 K Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built: No
Operator: Operating Certificate(s) None
Held:
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: IIY,645 ft msl Observation Time: 17:15 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 17 Nautical Miles Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C /11°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: /,
Lowest Ceiling: Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.16 inches Hg Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: Winder, GA (WDR) Destination: Lincolnton, GA (PVT)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal Latitude, 33.789493,-82.469268 (est)
Longitude:

Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC):
Additional Participating Persons:
Note:
Brazy, Douglass
Henry Soderlund; Textron Aviation; Wichita, KS
Kurt Gibson; Continental Aerospace Technologies; Mobile, AL
Ron Rakestraw; FAA/FSDO; Atlanta, GA
The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Page 2 of 2 ERA20LA329
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.