# Accident 20181016020149A: Cessna 182P, Opelika, AL, October 16, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 16, 2018, 10:05 local time
- Place: Opelika, AL
- Airport: Auburn University Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.6333° N, 85.3683° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6333&lon=-85.3683&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9398G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9398G-2020-08-02) (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: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 13,422 total, 100 in this make and model, 124 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA19LA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA017) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181016020149A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM THE FLIGHT PLANNING EQUIPMENT AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY AIRPORT (AUO), FOUR-FLIGHT SOFTWARE AND THE ATHENS ASOS. THE NIGHT WAS CLEAR ON DEPARTURE WITH ATHENS REPORTING 4100 BROKEN WITH 10 MILES VISIBILITY. THE PILOT PREFLIGHTED THE AIRCRAFT AND COMPLETED A RUN UP AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.

THE DEPARTURE WAS NORMAL AND THE PILOT CONTACTED ATLANTA APPROACH RECEIVING VFR FLIGHT FOLLOWING AND A SQUAWK CODE.

THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE PRESSURE FALLING AND HE IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK FOR AUO. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND LOSING POWER WITH SPARKS COMING FROM UNDER THE COWLING. VERY QUICKLY, THE ENGINE STOPPED AND BEGAN FILLING THE CABIN WITH SMOKE.

ATC WAS APPRISED OF THE SITUATION AND THE CONTROLLER SUGGESTED FINDING A ROAD. THE PILOT SAW A ROAD WITH STREETLIGHTS BUT DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD AND WOULD BE HIGH RISK BUT THEN SPOTTED A FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOW AND GETTING INTERMITTENT STALL HORN. A MAY DAY CALL WAS INITIATED AND ATLANTA WAS TOLD THAT THEY WE WERE GOING DOWN.

ONCE CLEARED THE TREES TO THE SIDE OF THE FOUR LANE AN ALMOST CONTINUOUS STALL WARNING HORN WAS HEARD.

THE PILOT HEADED FOR THE GRASS NEXT TO THE EXIT RAMP.

THE PLANE LANDED AND WAS IN ONE PIECE BUT ON IMPACT SLIDE BACK DOWN THE EXIT RAMP GRADE WHERE THE TAIL SECTION HIT THE TREES FIRST. THE REAR PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT BY KICKING OUT THE BACK WINDOW. THE PILOT AND FRONT PASSENGER FORCED OPEN THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ERA19LA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA017), Oct 16, 2018: Cessna 182 (N9398G), Opelika, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper torque application and ongoing inspection of an oil filter adaptor by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a loss of lubrication and a catastrophic engine failure.

## Other reports on N9398G (1)

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

- [Accident 19820822040309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820822040309A), Aug 22, 1982: Cessna 182P (N9398G), Batesville, GA, Substantial damage. Misjudged true runway threshold. Landed short on a up slope. Runway and upslope grass mowed, looked like runway.

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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