Airplane Lifted Off Nose-High, The Wings Buffeted, And The Airplane Drifted Left Into Trees

Location: Macon, NC Accident Number: ERA23LA240
Date & Time: May 21, 2023, 14:47 Local Registration: N182LG
Aircraft: Cessna R182 Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On May 21, 2023, about 1447 eastern daylight time, a Cessna R182, N182LG, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Macon, North Carolina. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The airplane was departing on runway 18 at Nocarva Airport (NC10), Macon, North Carolina. Runway 18 was 1,900 ft long, 100 ft wide, and consisted of a turf surface. According to a pilot witness and witness video, the airplane travelled along the runway in a nose-high attitude, with the tail dragging in the turf. The airplane lifted off nose-high, the wings buffeted, and the airplane drifted left into trees. The engine was operating continuously, and no abnormal engine sounds were heard.

A postcrash fire consumed a majority of the wreckage, which came to rest in a wooded area off the left side of the runway, about three-fourths down the runway. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov