History of Flight
On August 25, 2018, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182A, registration N4785D, was destroyed when it collided with terrain at East Georgia Regional Airport (SBO), Swainsboro, Georgia. The commercial pilot and three passengers were fatally injured; one passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 skydiving flight.
A parachute rigger reported flying on the first two flights of the day, which were coaching flights by the company owner with the new pilot. The owner was pleased with the pilot's flying skills and allowed him to continue flying the remaining flights. During the next three flights, the rigger remained on the ground packing parachutes. After the fourth flight, the pilot was refueling and noticed the right wing fuel cap was missing. The pilot asked the rigger to contact the airport maintenance facility for a replacement cap. A mechanic came to examine the airplane, and the pilot later told the rigger they decided to use "fuel cell tape" over the fuel filler port. The flight departed with skydivers, and the rigger returned to the hangar. When the jump airplane returned, the final group of skydivers boarded. The rigger observed the airplane taxi for takeoff but did not see it depart. Shortly after, he saw a police car drive toward the runway end and then saw a "huge" fire at the end of the runway.
A witness near the airport watched the airplane climb after takeoff and stated it was about 150 ft over the runway when the engine stopped. The witness saw the wings "rock" left and right before the airplane pitched down, collided with the ground, and burst into flames, being consumed by fire.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest 2,000 ft past the departure end of runway 14. The 35-ft-long wreckage path extended from the first ground scar on a magnetic heading of 014° to the main wreckage. The left wing was partially separated and came to rest forward of the fuselage. The left fuel tank and left flap were consumed by the postimpact fire. The left fuel tank cap was thermally damaged. The right wing remained upright on the right side of the fuselage, loosely attached by the right lift strut. Examination of the right wing revealed the fuel cap was missing and tape covered the fuel filler port; the tape had been exposed to heat and was peeling. The cabin and instrument panel were consumed by fire. The fuel selector valve sustained significant thermal damage and was found in the "both" position when disassembled. The fuel tank vent line on the left wing showed no obstructions but was impact damaged. All flight control surfaces were accounted for, and continuity was established from the cockpit to each surface. Examination of the engine and its components revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Division of Forensic Sciences, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, performed an autopsy on the pilot. The cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory was negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, and drugs.