# NTSB ATL04LA086: Cessna 182K, N4GB, Eden, GA, March 18, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 18, 2004, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Eden, GA - Coordinates: 32.16611, -81.383331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1661&lon=-81.3833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58918 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58918/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA086 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to improper installation by maintenance personnel which resulted in the mixture control cable becoming disconnected in-flight. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the in-flight collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - mixture control,cable - disconnected (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was conducting a test flight following the installation of an overhauled engine. He said that during the installation he drained all fuel from the airplane and added about 38 gallons of 100LL fuel. After ground runs of approximately 20-minutes with no problems noted he re-started the engine, did a standard run-up and taxied to the runway and took off at 1429. Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power and the pilot attempted to return to the airport. As the pilot maneuvered for the forced landing, the airplane collided with the tops of trees, the runway, and flipped inverted. Examination of the engine found the mixture control cable disconnected from the carburetor. During the post-accident examination of the the airplane, the engine ran without any discrepancies after the mixture control cable was reconnected. ## Factual narrative On March 18, 2004, at 1430 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182K, N4GB, registered to and operated by the private pilot, collided with trees and subsequently the ground shortly after takeoff from the Cypress Lakes Subdivision, private grass strip, in Eden, Georgia. The flight was operated under the provision of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from the private air strip, Eden, Georgia, on March 18, 2004, at 1429. According to the pilot, he was conducting a test flight following the installation of an overhauled engine. Since the airplane had a supplemental type certificate for the use of automotive fuel, and it was recommended by the engine rebuild facility that the 100 low-lead aviation fuel be used in the rebuilt engine for the first 50 hours. Therefore, the mechanic drained the automotive fuel from the fuel system, and replaced it with 38 gallons of 100 low-lead aviation fuel. After ground runs of approximately 20-minutes with no problems noted he re-started the engine, did a standard run-up and taxied to the runway for a takeoff. According to a witness, shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power and the pilot attempted to return to the runway. As the pilot maneuvered for the forced landing, the airplane collided with the tops of trees, descended and collided with the runway, and flipped inverted. The pilot stated that he had been knocked unconscious in the accident and did not recall all of the events. However, he did remember that after takeoff the engine slowly went to idle on its own during the flight. The next thing he remembered was waking up in the hospital. The post-accident examination of the airplane found the engine and the empennage separated from the cabin and cockpit. Examination of the engine found the mixture control cable disconnected from the carburetor. The airplane was recovered to Atlanta Air Recovery where the engine was run. During the post-accident examination of the the airplane, the engine ran without any discrepancies after the mixture control cable was reconnected. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4GB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4GB-2006-08-07), registration cancelled 2006-08-07, S/N 18258054, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182K - Registry model: [Cessna 182K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182k) (registry code 2072724) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18258054 - Airframe hours: 3300 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William H. Glenn - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 2003, 120 hours before - Departed: GA35, Eden, GA - Destination: GA35 - Airport: GA35, Cypress Lakes, runway 13, 2,800 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 28, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 439 total, 122 in this make and model, 395 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: SAV, 20 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 20040318035519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040318035519A), Mar 18, 2004: Cessna 182K, Eden, GA, Destroyed. (-23) While on initial climb from the cypress lakes airport (pvt), airplane had engine problem. Pilot returned to same airport for emergency landing with… 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.