# Accident 20200522007419A: Cessna 182A, Ionia, MI, May 22, 2020 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 22, 2020, 19:18 local time - Place: Ionia, MI - Airport: Ionia County - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 42.9378° N, 85.0561° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9378&lon=-85.0561&mi=10 - Aircraft: N5179D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5179D) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 182A (registry code 2072704, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182A - Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor - Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 18 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20CA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA193) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200522007419A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON MAY 22, 2020 AT 1918 LOCAL TIME, A TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED CESSNA CE-182A AIRCRAFT, N5179D, REGISTERED TO A FLIGHT SCHOOL AND OPERATED BY AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT RATED PILOT, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING LOSS OF CONTROL AND SUBSEQUENT GROUND LOOP ON LANDING RUNWAY 27 IONIA COUNTY AIRPORT (Y70), IONIA, MICHIGAN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND LIGHT WINDS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT AND SINGLE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE IONIA COUNTY AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY ON HOUR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE AND HIS PASSENGER WERE OUT TRAINING TO ?GET THE FEEL OF THE AIRCRAFT? AS IT HAD JUST COME OUT OF A TOTAL REBUILD A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. DURING THIS REBUILD, THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONVERTED TO A CONVENTIONAL TAILWHEEL LANDING GEAR AIRCRAFT BY THE INSTALLATION OF A SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE (STC). DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT THE PILOT STATES HE PERFORMED A NUMBER OF MANEUVERS INCLUDING STALLS, TURNS, AND ILS/GPS APPROACHES. ON THE LAST LANDING, THE PILOT STATES, EVERYTHING WAS GOING FINE UNTIL THE TAILWHEEL TOUCHED THE RUNWAY AND STARTED TO SHIMMY. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DRIFT LEFT OF CENTERLINE THEN THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER AND THE AIRCRAFT RESPONDED BY DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT AND PASSING THE CENTERLINE OVER CORRECTING. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER AND STATES THE RUDDER PEDAL SEEMED TO LOCK IN PLACE BUT WAS UNSURE IF IT WAS HIS REACTION OR A MECHANICAL ISSUE WITH THE RUDDER SYSTEM. AS THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT THE LANDING GEAR BECAME SIDE LOADED AND THE TAIL CAME AROUND OVER 180 DEGREES. DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE THE RIGHT WING DIPPED AND STRUCK THE RUNWAY SURFACE WITH THE AIRCRAFT COMING TO REST JUST OFF THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. ONCE ALL MOTION CEASED, THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO TAXI THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE HANGAR WITH NO ISSUES REPORTED IN THE STEERING OF THE TAILWHEEL OR RUDDER. PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING LEADING EDGE, TIP, AND SKIN. THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR ALSO SHOW IMPACT DAMAGE INCLUDING BUCKLING OF THE ELEVATOR SKIN. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE AND WHEEL SHOW MUD IMPACTION. NO OTHER PART OF THE AIRCRAFT APPEARS DAMAGED INCLUDING THE PROPELLER TIPS. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF FIRE. THE ELT DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FLIGHT SCHOOL MECHANICS INSPECTED THE TAILWHEEL AND RUDDER CONTROL ASSEMBLIES AND REPORTED NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE FOUND. WEATHER REPORT AT Y70, 222315Z, 08003KT, 10SM, SCT 075, 20/14, A29.99. ## 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 CEN20CA193](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA193), May 22, 2020: Cessna 182 (N5179D), Ionia, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing was the pilot getting his shoe caught in the rudder pedal. 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.