# Accident 20001118041449A: Cessna 182Q, Blacksburg, VA, November 18, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 18, 2000, 13:40 local time
- Place: Blacksburg, VA
- Airport: Virginia Tech Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2300° N, 80.4193° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2300&lon=-80.4193&mi=10
- Aircraft: N735TF, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N735TF) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 182Q (registry code 2072732, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182Q
- Reported engine: CONT O470U
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,134 total, 920 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC01LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA041) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001118041449A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) ON NOVEMBER 18, 2000, ABOUT 1340 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 182Q, N735TF, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHILE LANDING AT THE VIRGINIA TECH AIRPORT, BLACKSBURG, VIRGINIA. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE BEGAN A DESCENT FROM A CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 6,000 FEET, ABOUT 10 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE WAS CLOSE TO THE AIRPORT AND MADE A 360-DEGREE TURN TO LOSE ADDITIONAL ALTITUDE. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 30, A 4,550-FOOT LONG, 100 FOOT WIDE, ASPHALT RUNWAY, THE PILOT BELIEVED HE WAS STILL TOO HIGH AND INCREASED HIS RATE OF DESCENT. AS THE AIRPLANE WAS FLARED, ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE RUNWAY HARD ON THE NOSE WHEEL. THE PILOT INITIATED A GO-AROUND AND RADIOED TO THE UNICOM FREQUENCY, REQUESTING THAT SOMEONE VISUALLY CHECK THE AIRPLANE FOR ANY DAMAGE. AFTER A FLY-BY, NO DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED AND THE AIRPLANE RETURNED TO LAND UNEVENTFULLY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY, THE ENGINE MOUNTS, AND THE ENGINE FIREWALL. THE WINDS REPORTED AT THE AIRPORT, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, WERE FROM 270 DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS. (-23) IN A STATEMENT PROVIDED BY THE PILOT, HE REPORTED THAT ON APPROACH TO LAND ON RUNWAY 30, HE STEEPENED HIS DESCENT BELIEVING HE WAS TOO HIGH. HE THEN FLARED TO LAND AT THE THRESHOLD, COMING DOWN HARD ON THE NOSE WHEEL. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO BOUNCE VIOLENTLY. THE PILOT ADDED FULL THROTTLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND INITIATED A GO-AROUND. HE PERFORMED A FLY-BY FOR GROUND PERSONNEL TO ATTEMPT A DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, WHICH COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. HE THEN MAINTAINED POSITION IN TRAFFIC PATTERN AND PERFORMED AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING. AIRCRAFT HAD ORIGINALLY DEPARTED SOUTHERN PINES, NC, ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BUCKLED FIREWALL/FORWARD FUSELAGE, PROPELLER BENT, AND NOSE WHEEL FAIRING DESTROYED. MAINTENANCE RECORDS DETERMINED THE 24-MONTH INSPECTIONS TO THE ALTIMETER AND TRANSPONDER (14 CFR PARTS 91.411 AND 91.413) WERE PAST DUE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC01LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA041), Nov 18, 2000: Cessna 182Q (N735TF), Blacksburg, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare while landing.

## Other reports on N735TF (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19900423016029I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900423016029I), Apr 23, 1990: Cessna 182Q (N735TF), Ithaca, NY, Minor damage. Ruptured left main tire on landing rollout.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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