# NTSB ATL92LA005: Cessna 182, N9342X, Pinson, AL, October 13, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 13, 1991, 18:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place: Pinson, AL
- Coordinates: 33.720241, -86.649688 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7202&lon=-86.6497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8533
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92LA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8533/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA005

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO VISUALLY DETECT AND ATTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
  - proper alignment - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dusk

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT AUTOMOBILES HAD PARKED NEAR THE RUNWAY WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS ON AND HAD DISTORTED HIS VISION OF THE RUNWAY.  HE SAID THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT LANDING LIGHT CIRCUIT BREAKER HAD TRIPPED SEVERAL TIMES, AND HE HAD BECOME DISTRACTED WHILE TRYING TO KEEP THE LANDING LIGHT ILLUMINATED.  AFTER TOUCHDOWN, HE REALIZED THAT HE HAD LANDED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE TERRAIN ON THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WAS UNEVEN, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHILE TRAVELING OVER THE ROUGH TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9342X (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18253742
- Airframe hours: 4873
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470L 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Tate, Greye C
- Registered owner: Carruth, Sandra M
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 13, 1991, 88 hours before
- Airport: NONE, Gilmer Industrial, runway 3, 2,500 × 80 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 735 total, 200 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BHM, 42 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 19911013047969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911013047969A), Oct 13, 1991: Cessna 182E, Pinson, AL, Substantial damage. Reported car headlights hampered vision for landing after dropping jumpers. Landed on rough edge of strip.

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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