# NTSB ATL89FA198: Cessna 182J, N3542F, Bethel, OH, August 16, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 16, 1989, 16:05 local (20:05 UTC)
- Place: Bethel, OH
- Coordinates: 38.95972, -84.080528 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9597&lon=-84.0805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7915
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89FA198
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7915/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89FA198

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.  THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN A SOYBEAN FIELD, SHORTLY AFTER THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM HIS 1600 FT TURF STRIP. HE RPRTD THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE PLANE REACHED AN ALT OF 200 TO 300 FT AGL. HE COULD NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT HAD OCCURRED AFTER THAT, THOUGH HE DID RECALL LOWERING THE NOSE & HEARING A BUZZER SOUND AT ONE POINT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE PROP BLADES WERE TWISTED OR BENT WITH CHORDWISE SCRATCHES ON BOTH BLADES. THE ENG WAS PLACED IN A TEST CELL, WHERE IT WAS STARTED & RUN TO IDLE RPM. IT WAS NOT OPERATED ABOVE IDLE RPM, DUE TO A BENT CRANKSHAFT FLANGE. (THE CRANKSHAFT FLANGE WAS BENT DRG IMPACT.)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3542F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3542F-1990-07-19), registration cancelled 1990-07-19, S/N 18257542 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182J
- Registry model: [Cessna 182J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182j) (registry code 2072722) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18257542
- Airframe hours: 1850
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kelch, Wendell C., doing business as Kelch Repair Service
- Registered owner: Kelch, Wendell C
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 1989, 24 hours before
- Airport: NONE, runway 27, 1,600 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 105 total, 75 in this make and model, 68 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LUK, 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 19890816030129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890816030129A), Aug 16, 1989: Cessna 182J, Bethel, OH, Substantial damage. Stalled on climbout from short Private strip. Pilot heard stall horn. Tall trees end of runway.

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.

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