The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Atlanta, Georgia
Textron Aviation; Wichita, Kansas
Continental Aerospace Technologies; Mobile, Alabama
National Transportation Safety Board
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report
Location: Lincolnton, GA
Accident Number: ERA20LA329
Date & Time: September 22, 2020, 17:12 Local
Registration: N2601Q
Aircraft: Cessna 182 Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under:
On September 22, 2020, at 1712 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182 airplane, N2601, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Lincolnton, Georgia. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) tracking data revealed that the pilot departed Cherokee County Regional Airport (CNI), Canton, Georgia about 1530. He flew to Barrow County Regional Airport (WDR) Winder, Georgia, and remained there for about 30 minutes. He then departed for his home airport, a private field in Lincolnton, Georgia, at 1638.
About 1710, the airplane approached a field and pond located on land owned by the pilot’s family, about 3 miles south of the private airport. A witness who was mowing the grass surrounding the pond reported that the airplane flew “low” towards him and then over the pond in the pilot’s “standard ‘I’m home’ fly by.” Another witness who was also mowing around the pond, reported that the airplane “buzzed the pond” at an altitude of less than 60 ft above the ground. The airplane then “pulled up to normal flying altitude” and circled in a left turn before it approached the pond a second time. The witness estimated that as the airplane approached the pond its altitude was less than 50 ft above the ground. At one point, the airplane flew between two groups of trees with its right wing pointing “almost straight up in the air.” The airplane struck the ground at the edge of the pond, and briefly became airborne again before it impacted the water and came to rest partially submerged. The second witness did not observe the impact due to trees obstructing his view, however he reported that the sound of the engine was “steady” until he heard a “thump” followed by a “shoosh” which he surmised was the impact with the ground and then the water.
Examination of the accident site by two FAA inspectors revealed that the airplane sustained severe impact and crush damage forward of the empennage. Both wings were separated from the fuselage and sustained leading edge damage. The engine remained attached to the fuselage. The propeller assembly (both blades and hub) was separated from the flange. One propeller blade was twisted and bent about mid span, the other blade was slightly bent near the root and slightly twisted near the tip.
The airplane was retained for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna Registration: N2601Q
Model/Series: 182 K Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: IIY,645 ft msl
Observation Time: 17:15 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 17 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C /11°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: / ,
Lowest Ceiling: Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.16 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point: Winder, GA (WDR)
Destination: Lincolnton, GA (PVT)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 33.789493,-82.469268 (est)
Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.
June 13th, 1996 ~ September 22nd, 2020
Colen Floyd Mattison, 24, of Lincolnton, Georgia died Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020, as a result of injuries sustained in a plane crash. Affectionately known as “Cole Baby” to his community, Cole graduated as an honor graduate from Lincoln County High School in 2014. While in high school he was a member of the golf and the baseball teams. His abilities on the baseball field allowed him to play in many positions, but friends and family seemed at peace when they saw him on the pitcher’s mound. Cole was able to control a baseball field with his calm demeanor and smart thinking. He spent many weekends traveling across the southeast with travel ball teams during his middle and high school years. Cole was a member of Lincolnton Baptist Church and accepted Christ in February 2007.
Cole graduated from the University of Georgia in May 2020 with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering, an ideal marriage of his perfectionism and innate math skills. He was hired by Lead Edge Design Group as a design engineer just a week after graduation – allowing him to combine his education, his pilot’s license, and his love for anything-aviation. While Cole had dreams of taking over the business he watched his daddy grow from the time he was a little boy, Mattison and Associates Land Surveyors, his newfound affinity for the application of surveying within the airport design and economic development realm meant that he had truly found his passion.
On weekends Cole could be found on the lake with a boat full of friends, at his farm where people of any age were welcomed, or flying in his plane and living life to the fullest. He never went anywhere that he didn’t know someone or that he left without making a new friend.
Cole is survived by his father and mother, James Frank Mattison, IV, and Janice Floyd Mattison, and sister Julianne, his grandmothers Jane Guillebeau Mattison and Rose Mock. Cole was predeceased by grandfathers Colen Floyd “PaPa” and James Frank Mattison, III, “Butch”. He is also survived by a special friend of the family, Thomas Garnett “Poonk”. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of friends are celebrating his life and how his infectious smile had a way of touching the hearts of everyone he encountered.
Friends and loved ones are asked to join the family as they remember this precious life that God allowed them to be a part of for twenty-four years on the airstrip of his farm at 1324 Elberton Highway at 6:00 PM Sunday, September 27, 2020. A private memorial service will be held with immediate family at the church preceding his celebration of life.
November-Two-Six-Zero-One-Quebec is flying high and is forever in our hearts.
Beggs Funeral Home 200 May Ave., Lincolnton, Ga. is saddened to announce the death of Colen Floyd Mattison.