# NTSB ERA25LA325: Cessna 182, N628FN, Lebanon, OH, August 31, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 31, 2025, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Lebanon, OH - Coordinates: 39.461515, -84.254108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4615&lon=-84.2541&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2025 - 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): 200908 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA325 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200908/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200908 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA325 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a sign. ## 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 182S, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072701), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072701), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182S, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072701), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182S, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072701), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was preparing to depart for a personal flight but had not correctly set the airplane’s flaps for takeoff. During the takeoff the pilot rotated the airplane, but it would not climb due to the incorrect flap setting and it remained in ground effect. The airplane drifted off the side of the runway in the prevailing crosswind and struck a taxiway sign with the left main landing gear and empennage, which resulted in substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot subsequently landed the airplane in a field that was off to the side of the runway uneventfully. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N628FN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N628FN), registered now, S/N 18280227, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 182S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182s) (registry code 2072701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18280227 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 4528.9 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Steven Immerman - Registered owner: Flying Neutrons LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 2024 - Destination: EYE, Indianapolis, IN - Airport: I68, Warren County/John Lane Fld, runway 01, 4,505 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 415.8 total, 34.7 in this make and model, 306.3 as pilot in command, 2.6 in the last 90 days, 2.6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 18; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point - Pilot-rated passenger; injuries: none; private; seat: rear; restraint: lap only ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: MGY, 8 nm away - METAR: KMGY 311453Z AUTO 11007KT 10SM CLR 19/08 A3026 RMK AO2 SLP244 T01890083 51012 ## 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 20250831013609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250831013609A), Aug 31, 2025: Cessna 182S, Lebanon, OH, Substantial damage. The pilot stated he performed his preflight run ups and failed to deploy flaps. Per the POH the flap selection should have been 20 degrees with full fuel and 4… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200908. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 306 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19310721&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19310087&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Pilot's weight and balance calculation (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 230 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19406414&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N628FN%20W%26B%20-%20The%20Flying%20Neutrons-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19310731&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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.