# NTSB ERA25LA017: Cessna 182, N1242M, East Ellijay, GA, October 16, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 16, 2024, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: East Ellijay, GA · In a pasture just off airport - Coordinates: 34.624525, -84.531549 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6245&lon=-84.5315&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195326 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195326/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195326 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA017 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate compensation for winds during landing., which resulted in a loss of control and an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot/owner stated that he checked the winds when he was more than 15 miles from the destination airport and again while established on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. He said the automated weather observing system (AWOS) reported the winds were from 020°at 9 knots “with no gusts” and that he was landing on Runway 03. When over the runway threshold, the nose dropped “due to a decrease in headwind” so the pilot initiated a go-around. After applying “full” engine power and while configuring the airplane for the go-around, an “extreme perpendicular crosswind from the west blew the airplane into the path of trees lining the runway.” The pilot said he pulled back on the yoke to clear the trees, the right wing stalled, and the airplane landed hard in a flat attitude resulting in substantial damage and igniting a fire in the engine compartment. Three of the four occupants egressed the airplane with minor injuries while one occupant emerged uninjured. The pilot reported there were no preimpact anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Examination of the AWOS information reported at the airport 15 minutes before arrival revealed winds from 020° at 11 knots gusting to 19 knots. At the time of the accident, winds were reported to be from 040° at 12 knots gusting to 19 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1242M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1242M), registered now, S/N 18264256 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (P) - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18264256 - Airframe hours: 4293 - Engines: Continental O470-S2B 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 2023, 110 hours before - Departed: ALX, Alexander City, AL - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 49A, Gilmer County, runway 03/21, 3,507 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 210 total, 110 in this make and model, 125 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 12 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: 49A - METAR: K49A 161615Z AUTO 04012G19KT 10SM 12/02 A3031 RMK AO2 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20241016021299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241016021299A), Oct 16, 2024: Cessna 182P, Ellijay, GA, Destroyed. On October 16, 2024, at approximately 1215 eastern standard time, [privacy data omitted], a Cessna 182P, was involved in an accident with four people on board… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195326. 10.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18033494&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N1242M_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17948506&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20Bradley%20J%20Henninger-Rel.pdf - Gilmer county ga event summary (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17948606&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N-1242M-Crashincidentreprot20241016%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - 49A airport AWOS reports (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17948141&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20METARS-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17948273&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA017%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.