- Date
- January 3, 2004, 13:33 local (18:33 UTC)
- Place
- Taylorsville, NC
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3102SCessna 182G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Charlotte FSDO-33, Cessna Aircraft Company
- FAA report
- 20040103032089A
- Case key
- 58571
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to follow the checklist, resulting in a loss of directional control on the takeoff roll when the seat moved rearward, and on ground collision with an embankment.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot started the takeoff roll. Just before rotation, the seat slid backwards. The pilot lost directional control of the airplane, and the airplane collided with an embankment. Examination of the seat tracks revealed no elongation of the seat track holes. The Before Starting The Engine checklist states, "Seats and Seat belts-Adjust and lock."
Factual narrative
On January 3, 2004, at 1333 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182G, N3102S, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with an embankment on takeoff roll at Taylorsville Airport, Taylorsville, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Teague-Grider Airport, Taylorsville, North Carolina, on January 3, 2003, at 1333.
The pilot stated he started his takeoff roll on the west runway, and just before rotation his seat slid backwards. The pilot reported that he "lost directional control" of the airplane, and the airplane subsequently collided with an embankment.
Examination of the front seats revealed both seat track rails were buckled. The seat track pin holes were measured at 0.28 inches longitudinal and sideways dimensions. Air Worthiness Directive 87-20-03R2, Seat Tracks, requires inspection of all pin holes at 100 hour intervals. Replacement of the seat rail becomes mandatory once any dimension exceed 0.42. No elongation of the seat track pin holes were noted.
Review of the Cessna 182 Pilot Operating Handbook, Section I, states in the BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE checklist,
"(1) Seats and Seat Belts-Adjust and lock."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3102S
- Reported as
- Cessna 182G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18255602
- Airframe hours
- 2,990
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R55B, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John R. Graham
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 11, 2003 · 46 hours before
- Departed
- 5A5 · Taylorsville, NC
- Destination
- SVH · Statesville, NC
- Airport
- Taylorsville Airport, runway 270, 2,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 78
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- January 5, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 240 total · 186 in this make and model · 190 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- SVH, 39 nm away
Docket · 6
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 6, 2006, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.