# NTSB ERA26LA278: Textron 182T, N505CP, Fredericksburg, VA, June 13, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 13, 2026, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Fredericksburg, VA
- Coordinates: 38.26825, -77.446967 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2683&lon=-77.4470&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 2026
- 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): 203442
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA278
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203442/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203442
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA278

## Probable cause

The pilot’s distraction during taxi, which resulted in a taxiway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Textron 182T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=2072723), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Textron 182T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072723), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while taxing from the ramp to the runway, he became distracted by a helicopter to the right and perpendicular to the airplane. While he observed the helicopter, the pilot inadvertently taxied into a grassy area and subsequently impacted a drainage pipe. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N505CP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N505CP), registered now, S/N 18283070, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TEXTRON AVIATION INC 182T
- Registry model: [Textron 182T](https://openairdocs.org/model/textron-182t) (registry code 2072723) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-ab1a5) (registry code 41808, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18283070
- Year built: 2019
- Engines: Lycoming Engines IO-540-AB1A5 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 2025
- Airport: EZF, Shannon
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 6, 2026; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,713 total, 1,461 in this make and model, 4,639 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 3.7 in the last 30 days, 1.6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: EZF
- METAR: METAR KEZF 131735Z AUTO 29005KT 10SM SCT055 A2996 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 20260613008729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260613008729A), Jun 13, 2026: Textron Aviation Inc 182T, Fredericksburg, VA, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that while taxiing from parking ramp to run up area for eventual take-off, he [the rated pilot] became distracted by non-rated right seat…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203442. 4.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20796728&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA278%20Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20796590&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA278%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.