Accident Overview
On June 23, 2025, at approximately 0930 eastern daylight time, a Cessna R182 airplane, registration N262AL, was substantially damaged during an accident near Milton, Florida. The airline transport pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The aircraft was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight.
Flight Details
The pilot had departed Dothan Regional Airport (DHN) in Dothan, Alabama, and flown about 95 nautical miles before landing at J-22 Ranch Airport (16FL) in Milton, Florida. Upon arrival, the pilot arranged for installation of a new emergency locator transmitter battery. Approximately 90 minutes after landing, the maintenance was completed, and the pilot prepared for the return flight to DHN.
Accident Sequence
The pilot reported that preflight checks and engine runup were normal. He attempted a short field takeoff from runway 36, a 2,895-foot turf runway. After the takeoff roll and rotation, the pilot began the initial climb and retracted the landing gear. When the airplane was about 75 feet above the runway, the engine rapidly began losing power. The pilot described that the engine retained partial power but insufficient to maintain altitude.
Attempting to troubleshoot, the pilot checked the throttle and mixture controls but, due to the low altitude, could not regain full power. He subsequently landed off the departure end of the runway, slightly east of the centerline. During the final approach, the pilot held the nose up and landed hard on level terrain. The impact collapsed the right main landing gear, and the airplane skidded to a stop, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The right wingtip was crushed upward, and buckling occurred to the wings and fuselage. The three-blade metal propeller blades were slightly curled on the outer 12 inches.
Post-Accident Examination
The pilot reported that the airplane had 65 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel on board at takeoff. The aircraft was retained for further examination.