# NTSB ANC98LA051: Cessna 182A, N4827D, Palmer, AK, May 17, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 1998, 19:30 local (May 17, 1998, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.619255, -148.980865 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6193&lon=-148.9809&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3140 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3140/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA051 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to abort the landing. A factor associated with the accident is the presence of a variable wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) - aborted landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Abrupt maneuver, landing - roll ## Analysis The solo private pilot was landing at a private, gravel airstrip in a tricycle landing gear equipped airplane. The pilot stated in his written report that while on final approach to the south runway, he encountered winds estimated to be from 220 degrees at 7 knots with gusts to 12 knots. As the airplane continued on the approach and went below the adjacent tree line, the rate of descent increased. He was unable to arrest the rate of decent prior to touchdown, and the airplane bounced on landing. He recovered from the bounce, and flew further down the runway and landed about midfield of the 1,250 feet long runway. He realized after touchdown he would be unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the runway, and elected to make a hard turn to the right and apply heavy breaking. During the turn, the left wing struck the ground and sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 1998, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 182A airplane, N4827D, sustained substantial damage while landing at a private airstrip located about 5 miles west of Palmer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no FAA flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Palmer Municipal Airport, Palmer, at 1915. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, on May 21, 1998, at 1015, the pilot reported that while on approach to the south runway, he encountered winds estimated to be from 220 degrees at 7 knots with gusts to 12 knots. He said as the airplane continued on the approach and went below the adjacent tree line, the rate of descent increased. He was unable to arrest the rate of descent prior to touchdown, and the airplane bounced on landing. He recovered from the bounce, and flew further down the runway and landed about midfield of the 1,250 feet long runway. He realized after touchdown he would be unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the runway, and he elected to make a hard turn to the right. During the turn, the left wing struck the ground and received substantial damage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4827D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4827D), registered now, S/N 34927, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182A - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34927 - Airframe hours: 2908 - Engines: Continental O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Barry J. Ruff - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 1997, 138 hours before - Departed: PAQ, PALMER, AK - Airport: runway 18, 1,250 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 490 total, 50 in this make and model, 460 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19980516013259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980516013259A), May 16, 1998: Cessna 182A, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. High sink on final. Landed hard. Bounced recovered relanded. Unable stop on rwy. Made hard turn. Bent a wing. (.4)the solo private pilot was landing at a… 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.