# Accident 20240330011089A: Cessna 182F, Ben Wheeler, TX, March 30, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 30, 2024, 13:00 local time
- Place: Ben Wheeler, TX
- Airport: Vaca Moo
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4282° N, 95.7111° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4282&lon=-95.7111&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3322U, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3322U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 182F (registry code 2072714, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182F
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA142) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240330011089A

## Narrative

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

JUMP PLANE WAS PARTICIPATING AT AN AIRSHOW AND UTILIZED NEARBY GRASS STRIP THAT WAS ONLY 50FT WIDE FOR JUMP OPERATIONS. WHILE RETURNING TO TA37 AFTER RELEASING JUMPERS FOR THE AIRSHOW PILOT EXPERIENCED STRONGER THAN EXPECTED CROSS-WIND DURING LANDING FLARE THAT RESULTED IN HIM BEING PUSHED OFF THE RUNWAY. ENTERING A SAND PIT THAT WAS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. SHORTLY AFTER SETTLING INTO THE SAND THE LEFT WING HIT CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO SPIN, DIG THE NOSE WHEEL IN AND RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT COMING TO A STOP UPSIDE DOWN.

WINDS AT AIRSHOW AIRPORT WERE APPROXIMATELY 15 GUSTING 25 AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. WHILE ON SITE FOR INSPECTION THE WINDS WERE STILL GUSTING AND ALMOST A DIRECT CROSSWIND WITH A SHEAR CAUSED BY TREE LINE BREAK APPROXIMATELY 500FT FROM APPROACH END THRESHOLD.

NO INJURIES AND AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 CEN24LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA142), Mar 30, 2024: Cessna 182F (N3322U), Ben Wheeler, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control while landing in a gusting wind.

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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