# NTSB ANC94LA139: Cessna 182B, N2791G, Ketchikan, AK, August 19, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 18, 1994, 20:30 local (Aug 19, 1994, 04:30 UTC) - Place: Ketchikan, AK - Coordinates: 55.610488, -131.579452 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.6105&lon=-131.5795&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2570 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2570/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA139 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING A HARD LANDING. THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING AND A DOWNDRAFT WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - approach light/navaid ## Analysis THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE LANDING AT THE CONCLUSION OF A PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT AND THE AIRPLANE DROPPED TO THE RUNWAY SURFACE AND BOUNCED INTO THE AIR WHILE DRIFTING TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER TO CONTROL THE DRIFT AND WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN, CUT THE ENGINE POWER AND ADDED FLAPS. THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A VASI INDICATOR HOUSING LOCATED 54 FEET TO THE LEFT OF THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE VASI HOUSING WAS DAMAGED UNTIL NOTIFIED BY AIRPORT PERSONNEL THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED LEADING EDGE AND AILERON DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING. ## Factual narrative On August 18, 1994, at 2030 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 182 airplane, N2791G, owned and operated by the pilot-in-command, collided with the visual approach slope indicator (VASI) on runway 29 at the Ketchikan Airport, Ketchikan, Alaska during landing. The private certificated pilot and his two passengers, the sole occupants, were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pleasure flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed Wrangle, Alaska at 1945 and the intended destination was the site on which the accident occurred. No flight plan was in effect and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Confirmation of substantial damage to the plane's right wing and aileron assembly was completed on September 16, 1994. The pilot reported that during the approach for landing, he encountered a downdraft and the airplane dropped to the runway surface and then became airborne again while drifting to the left. The pilot indicated that he applied right rudder and when the aircraft touched down again, he cut the engine power and dropped two notches of flaps. The pilot was not aware that the airplane struck the VASI indicator housing until he was notified by airport personnel the following day. Airport personnel reported that the VASI indicator housing is mounted on 4 frangible posts. The top of the housing is about 4 feet above the ground. The housing is located 54 feet to the left of the left edge of runway 29. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2791G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2791G), registered now, S/N 52091, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182B - Registry model: [Cessna 182B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182b) (registry code 2072706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52091 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charlton, Albert J. - Registered owner: Charlton, Albert J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 1993, 22 hours before - Departed: WRG, WRANGLE, AK - Airport: KTN, Ketchikan International, runway 29, 7,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 124 total, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 290° at 10 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KTN, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940818044089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940818044089A), Aug 18, 1994: Cessna 182B, Ketchikan, AK, Substantial damage. Downdraft on final. Touchdown short of runway bounced. Landed on runway. Right wing had struck VASI light. ## Other investigations on N2791G (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 MKC69D0447](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC69D0447), May 18, 1969: Cessna 182B (N2791G), Highmore, SD, substantial damage 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. --- 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.