# Accident 20120902019579A: Cessna 182P, Newberry, MI, September 2, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 2, 2012, 14:16 local time
- Place: Newberry, MI
- Airport: Luce Co.
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.3108° N, 85.4569° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3108&lon=-85.4569&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5981J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5981J-2012-11-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 182P (registry code 2075816, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 10,200 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12TA604](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12TA604) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120902019579A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2012 AT 1416 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 182 SINGLE ENGINE AIRCRAFT, N5981J, REGISTERED TO THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR) AND OPERATED BY AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED THE THRESHOLD FOLLOWING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 11 AT THE NEWBERRY AIRPORT, (ERY).  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND GUSTY WINDS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PATROL FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED FOR FOREST FIRE WATCH UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE LOCAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE NEWBERRY AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 1345 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME.ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS AT HIS CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 4500FT WHEN HE  SMELLED A FAINT ELECTRICAL SMELL BUT SAW NO SMOKE.  HE RADIOED THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES DISPATCH AND NOTIFIED THEM THAT HE WAS RETURNING TO NEWBERRY AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE. HE NOTED THAT THE AMMETER AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS WERE ALL NORMAL AT THIS TIME AND DID NOT POWER DOWN ANY SYSTEMS.  AS HE WAS APPROACHING TO LAND A LARGE PUFF OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEAR THE MAIN ELECTRICAL BUSS.  WITH THIS DISTRACTION AND SOME MODERATE LOW LEVEL TURBULENCE, HE IMPACTED THE THRESHOLD OF RUNWAY 11, 200FT SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.  THE NOSE GEAR SHEARED OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE THE POST IMPACT FIRE WITH 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO HIS ARMS AND LEGS.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THE ENSUING FIRE.WEATHER REPORT FROM ERY AIRPORT AT 1814 UTC WAS: WIND 130 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS GUST TO 15 KNOTS, VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, 4400 BKN AND ALTIMETER 30.11.

## 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 CEN12TA604](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12TA604), Sep 2, 2012: Cessna 182P (N5981J), Newberry, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane due to distraction from a combination of smoke in the cockpit and a sudden turbulence encounter while on short final approach. The cause of the…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.