# Accident 20020808017519A: Cessna R182, Reading, PA, August 8, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 8, 2002, 19:23 local time
- Place: Reading, PA
- Airport: Reading Municipal Gen Carl A Spaatz
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3786° N, 75.9656° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3786&lon=-75.9656&mi=10
- Aircraft: N21PL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21PL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna R182 (registry code 2072734, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R182
- Pilot flight hours: 600 total, 200 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC02LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA158) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020808017519A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON AUGUST 8, 2002, AT 1923 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA R182, N21PL, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING LANDING AT READING REGIONAL/CARL A. SPAATZ FIELD (RDG), READING, PENNSYLVANIA. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME. A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR THE FLIGHT, FROM READING TO SARASOTA/BRADENTON AIRPORT (SRQ), SARASOTA, FLORIDA. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR, SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT SMELLED FUMES IN THE COCKPIT. HE RETURNED FOR A LANDING; HOWEVER, WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN, THE LANDING GEAR WAS NOT FULLY EXTENDED. (-23) DURING THE CLIMB PHASE, AFTER A TAKEOFF FROM RDG IN READING, PA, CESSNA N21PL WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 3,000 FEET WHEN THE PILOT, MR. JACK DOLBIN, NOTICED AN ODOR IN THE COCKPIT AND AN APPARENT ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE. THE PILOT BEGAN A DESCENT AND RETURNED TO RDG. DURING THE APPROACH PHASE, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND MADE SEVERAL PASSES PAST THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER IN AN EFFORT TO VERIFY THE LANDING GEAR WAS UN                              SAFE. AFTER DETERMINING THAT ONLY THE NOSE GEAR WAS EXTENDED, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. DURING THE LANDING, THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER CONTACTED THE RUNWAY, BREAKING THE LEFT HORIZONTAL SPAR AND BENDING THE LEFT ELEVATOR. THE LEFT WING TIP CRACKED AND THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE WAS SCRAPED. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL HAVE DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE HYDRAULIC FAILURE TO BE A FAILURE OF THE NOSE GEAR ACTUATOR EXTEND HYDRAULIC LINE. THE PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT ONBOARD AND THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. M OR D HAS BEEN FILED.

## 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 NYC02LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA158), Aug 8, 2002: Cessna R182 (N21PL), Reading, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Separation of a hydraulic line from its landing gear motor fitting.

## Other reports on N21PL (1)

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

- [Incident 19940408011499I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940408011499I), Apr 8, 1994: Cessna R182 (N21PL), Daytona Beach, FL, Minor damage. Landed with nose gear stuck in up position foreign metal found sticking into nose wheel well. Door stuck closed.

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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