# NTSB ATL04LA103: Cessna 182P, N2277M, Sale Creek, TN, April 29, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 2004, 20:30 local (Apr 29, 2004, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Sale Creek, TN - Coordinates: 35.034999, -85.203613 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0350&lon=-85.2036&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Nashville FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59140 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59140/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA103 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause) - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use, pilot in command - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2277M-2018-01-12), registration cancelled 2018-01-12, S/N 182-63275, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182P - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 182-63275 - Airframe hours: 2757 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040429018139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040429018139A), Apr 29, 2004: Cessna 182P, Soddy Daisy, TN, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft N2277M landed in a field and sustained major damage. The pilot told the local police officers that he had run out of fuel. The pilot identified… 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.