No fatalities

Private Pilot's Wet Grass Runway Takeoff Results in Accident

Port Eads, LA, United States

On September 28, 2014, a CESSNA 182G G was involved in an aviation accident near Port Eads, LA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper decision to depart from a runway not suitable for takeoff, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot's decision to take off from a wet grass runway led to an accident after the left wheel hit a puddle. The aircraft struck sugar cane, descended, and flipped over, causing substantial damage.

Accident Overview

A private pilot experienced an accident during takeoff from his private grass runway. The pilot reported that the runway was wet but decided to proceed with the takeoff. During the takeoff roll, as the airplane was being lifted off the ground, the left wheel struck a puddle. This caused the right side of the airplane to become airborne before the left side, resulting in asymmetric lift.

Sequence of Events

The pilot managed to level the airplane at approximately 30 feet above ground level (agl). However, the airplane would not climb further. The pilot held the airplane in a nose-high attitude as it began to strike sugar cane adjacent to the runway. The airplane then descended, and the tail section struck the ground first. When the nose wheel contacted the ground, it sank into the mud, causing the airplane to flip over.

Damage and Pilot Statement

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the tail section, right wing strut, and firewall. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane prior to the accident. He also noted that he should have checked the runway's condition before departing and waited for conditions to improve.

Contributing factors

PilotDecision related to conditionClimb rate — Not attained/maintained