ATL04LA103

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 182P · Sale Creek, TN · April 29, 2004

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
April 28, 2004, 20:30 local (Apr 29, 2004, 01:30 UTC)
Place
Sale Creek, TN
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N2277MCessna 182P
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 24, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Nashville FSDO
FAA report
20040429018139A
Case key
59140

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, and the pilot's alcohol impairment that resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the ground.

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.

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering
Impairment(alcohol)Pilot in commandCause
Stolen aircraft/unauthorized usePilot in command
Airspeed - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

According to local authorities, they observed the airplane flying in an erratic manner. The airplane disappeared in the distance and a 911 emergency call was reported that an airplane had gone down. Local authorities that arrived on scene stated that the pilot stated "that the airplane was running out of gas before it collided with the ground". Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane rested in a nose low attitude and the engine was displaced to the left, and the engine was displaced downward and remained attached to the engine mounts. During the post-accident examination, the engine was prepared for a functional test. The engine started, ran for 10 minutes and developed power. The local authorities also reported that the pilot "had a strong odor of intoxicant" coming from his person. The owner of the airplane reported that the pilot in command was unauthorized to use the airplane. Review of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department incident report revealed the pilots (Alcohol Medical test showed 212 MG/DL (0.212%).

Factual narrative

On April 28, 2004, at 2030 central daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N2277M, registered to JFC Aircraft Incorporated and operated by an un-certificated pilot collided with the ground while maneuvering erratically near Sale Creek, Tennessee. The personal flight was conducted under the provision of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot received serious injuries. The flight departed from an unknown location at an undetermined time.

According to local authorities, they observed the airplane flying in an erratic manner. The airplane disappeared in the distance and a 911 emergency call was reported that an airplane had gone down. Local authorities that arrived on scene stated that the pilot stated "that the airplane was running out of gas before it collided with the ground". The local authorities also reported that the pilot "had a strong odor of intoxicant" coming from his person. The owner of the airplane reported that the pilot in command was unauthorized to use the airplane.

Examination of the airplane revealed approximately 12 gallons of blue colored fuel was found in the right tank, and the left tank was empty. Auto gas fuel placards were near the fuel filler ports, and the tanks were not breached. Further examination revealed that the airplane rested in a nose low attitude and the engine was displaced to the left, and the engine was displaced downward and remained attached to the engine mounts. During the post-accident examination, the engine was prepared for a functional test. The engine started, ran for 10 minutes and developed power.

Review of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department incident report revealed that the pilots had an alcohol level of (Alcohol Medical test showed 212 MG/DL (0.212%).

Aircraft

Registration
N2277M
Reported as
Cessna 182P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
182-63275
Airframe hours
2,757
Engine
Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
James F Clark
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 8, 2003 · 2,757 hours before
Departed
Soddy Daisy, TN
Destination
Soddy Daisy, TN

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
47
Injuries
Serious
Seat
Left

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
150° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
68 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
30.19 inHg
Observed at
CHA

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.