What happened
On June 26, 2025, at approximately 09:30 EDT, a Cessna 182Q, registration N4953N, was involved in an accident near Nahunta, Georgia. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
The pilot had previously flown the aircraft from Sylacauga, Alabama, where it had undergone extensive maintenance, and had stopped at Brantley County Airport (4J1) on June 24, 2025. On the morning of the accident, the pilot performed a preflight inspection and started the engine normally. After allowing the engine to warm up and completing a magneto drop and propeller governor check, a fire suddenly emerged from the floor area near the rudder pedals.
The pilot exited the aircraft and attempted to use a handheld fire extinguisher to put out the flames, but the effort was unsuccessful. The fire resulted in no injuries to the pilot, but it caused substantial damage to the aircraft, consuming most of the fuselage and the right wing, while causing thermal damage to the left wing root.