# NTSB ATL01LA037: Cessna 182J, N2968F, Durham, NC, March 10, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 10, 2001, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Durham, NC - Coordinates: 36.039413, -78.830764 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0394&lon=-78.8308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 21, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51951 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51951/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA037 ## Probable cause THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. CONDITIONS FOR CARBURETOR ICING WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) (cause) ## Analysis DURING TAKEOFF, APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE PILOT SAID, THE ENGINE HAD A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH TREES. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE CONDUCIVE FOR CARBURETOR ICING. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE REPORTED BY THE PILOT. ## Factual narrative On March 10, 2001, at 1130 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182J, N2968F, collided with trees while maneuvering for an emergency landing to runway 14 at the Lake Ridge Aero Park in Durham, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot received serious injuries and his passenger received minor injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Durham, North Carolina, at 1129. According to eyewitnesses at the airport, shortly after takeoff from runway 32, at Lake Ridge Aero Park, the engine developed a rough running condition. The pilot executed a 180 degree turn toward the airport for an emergency landing. As the pilot maneuvered for a landing on runway 14, the airplane collided with trees approximately 200 yards from the approach end of the runway. According to the passenger, at approximately 500 feet above ground level, the pilot called for and started a right turn to crosswind. At that moment," the engine missed," and a few seconds later the engine RPM started to decline. The pilot initiated a 270 degrees turn to return to the airport. During the turn, the pilot restored engine power twice followed by the total loss of engine power. Engine power was restored for a second time and finally quit. The pilot selected an emergency landing area. The airplane collided with trees about 1/8th of a mile out from the airport, as the pilot maneuvered for the emergency landing attempted. According to a commercial pilot who purchased the wreckage salvage, examination of the engine showed the intake manifold was in pieces, the number one cylinder valve cover was broken, the rocker arm was intact, and the crankshaft was broken. Examination of the fuel screens and sumps showed no signs of contamination. He stated that everything looked normal except for the fuel selector valve. During the examination of the fuel selector valve, he noticed the lower cotter pin was missing. Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were favorable for the formation of carburetor icing. No mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2968F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2968F-2001-12-10), registration cancelled 2001-12-10, S/N 18257068, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182J - Registry model: [Cessna 182J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182j) (registry code 2072722) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18257068 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David H. Jones - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: W65, DURHAM, NC - Destination: NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 1,900 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: RDU, 13 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 20010310003759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010310003759A), Mar 10, 2001: Cessna 182J, Durham, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed from W65, runway 32, on March 10th at approx. 11:30 am. [privacy data omitted]Was the pilot and [privacy data omitted]was the… 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.