Cessna 182 Accident Linked to Inadequate Wind Compensation in East Ellijay

The accident involving the four-seat light aircraft occurred in East Ellijay, Georgia. General Aviation News reported that the pilot, who also owned the aircraft, checked the weather over 15 miles away and again on the downwind leg. At those times, the Automated Weather Observing System indicated winds from 020 degrees at 9 knots without gusts, leading to an intended landing on Runway 3.

Upon reaching the runway threshold, the aircraft experienced a nose drop caused by a dropping headwind, prompting the pilot to start a go-around. While applying full engine power and setting up the aircraft for the maneuver, an intense perpendicular crosswind arriving from the west pushed the machine toward trees bordering the runway.

To clear the obstacles, the pilot pulled back on the yoke. This action triggered a right wing stall, followed by a hard landing in a flat attitude and a subsequent engine compartment fire. Three occupants sustained minor injuries, while the fourth person escaped without injury.

The pilot confirmed to investigators that no mechanical failures or preimpact anomalies existed to stop normal operations. However, a review of weather data showed that 15 minutes prior to arrival, the automated system recorded winds from 020 degrees at 11 knots with gusts reaching 19 knots. By the time of the crash, winds shifted to 040 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 19 knots.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause to be the pilot failing to adequately compensate for winds during the landing sequence, which triggered a loss of control and an aerodynamic stall. The certified single-engine aircraft has a maximum take-off weight of 1406.14 kg, a wingspan of 10.97 m, and features a horizontally opposed piston engine with a constant-speed propeller producing 171.51 kW of engine power.

PlaneFile lists 421 Cessna 182 aircraft currently for sale.

Sources: General Aviation News