# Accident 20220302008899A: Cessna 182D, Mortmar, CA, March 2, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 2, 2022, 08:03 local time
- Place: Mortmar, CA
- Airport: Jacqueline Cochran Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.5281° N, 115.9674° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5281&lon=-115.9674&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8814X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8814X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 182D (registry code 2072710, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182D
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 9,529 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA115) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220302008899A

## Narrative

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

ON 03/02/2022, N8814X TOOK OFF OUT OF THERMAL AIRPORT AND LEVELED OFF IN LOW-LEVEL CRUISE PROCEEDING TOWARDS THE NORTH SHORE OF THE SALTON SEA. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN MODIFIED  FROM TRICYCLE TO CONVENTIONAL LANDING GEAR AND WITH THE ADDITION OF A TAIL BOOM HOUSING A SENSOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF SURVEYING FOR RARE EARTH MINERALS OVER UNPOPULATED AREAS. SINCE THE AIRCRAFT NEEDED TO MAINTAIN LOW LEVEL FLIGHT TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT, AND PROCEEDED TOWARDS ITS SURVEY AREA IN THE VICINITY OF THE NORTH SHORE OF THE SALTON SEA AT APPROXIMATELY 400' ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER A NORMAL CLIMB AND INITIAL CRUISE, THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT INITIAL POWER LOSS RETAINED SOME USE OF ENGINE POWER, BUT THAT SECONDS LATER, THE AIRPLANE'S POWERPLANT COMPLETELY FAILED. BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING AT APPROXIMATELY LOW LEVEL, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE IMMEDIATELY RESPONDED BUT EXECUTING A RIGHT TURN FROM AN EASTERLY HEADING TO APPROACH AND LAND ON A DIRT FIELD TO THE SOUTH. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE LOSE EARTH OF THE FIELD AND COMPLETED A SIGNIFICANT DISTANCE OF LANDING ROLL IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION BEFORE FINAL APPLICATION OF BRAKES OR RESISTANCE OF ACCUMULATED EARTH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE FLIPPING, OVERTURNING, AND COMING TO REST INVERTED. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MAJOR COMPONENTS AND AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE, BUT THE PILOT REPORTED BEING UNHARMED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THAT HE HAD BEEN FLYING THE AIRPLANE FROM THE LEFT FRONT SEAT.

## 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 WPR22LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA115), Mar 2, 2022: Cessna 182D (N8814X), Desert Camp, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

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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