# NTSB BFO94LA057: Cessna 182A, N5868B, Berea, KY, April 2, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 2, 1994, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Berea, KY - Coordinates: 37.569881, -84.290191 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5699&lon=-84.2902&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 3 minor - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8902 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8902/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA057 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE TAKEOFF. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. ## 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 - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - tree(s) ## Analysis THE PRIVATE PILOT AND FOUR PARACHUTISTS WERE ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE AS IT TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF. THE WIND CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED BETWEEN 14 AND 16 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ADDED FULL POWER, ACHIEVED FLYING SPEED, ROTATED, AND BEGAN TO CLIMB OUT. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE THEN ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND IT DRIFTED INTO A TREE LOCATED ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS AND STATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE INITIATED THE FLIGHT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH WINDS. ## Factual narrative On April 2, 1994, about 1830 hours eastern standard time, N5868B, a Cessna 182, operated by the Thunderbird Sport Parachute Club, Inc., Versailles, Kentucky, impacted a tree during takeoff in Berea, Kentucky. The airplane was destroyed. The certificated private pilot and two passengers received minor injuries, and two other passengers were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed from the Berea-Richmond Lackey Field, a grass airstrip, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot, the airplane was loaded with four parachutists for the purpose of conducting a sport parachute jump. The pilot then taxied to the active runway and performed a "run up" with no abnormalities noted. The pilot stated that he selected 10 degrees of flaps and lined up for takeoff on runway 21. He added full power and obtained "enough airspeed for takeoff." He stated that he rotated and began to climb, but encountered an "... air pocket or low level wind shear." The airplane lost altitude, impacted a tree on the western edge of the runway, and burned. The pilot stated that the winds were gusting and that he ". . . should have waited [until] the winds died down or reset the jump to a calmer day." The pilot also stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The reported wind conditions at a weather observation facility located about 25 nautical miles north of the accident site about the time of the accident were 14 knots at 240 degrees magnetic. The pilot estimated the wind conditions to be 12 knots gusting to 16 knots at 030 degrees magnetic. According to a Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector, the owner of the airplane was seated in the right front seat during the accident. He told the FAA safety inspector that the engine was producing full power and that the airplane did not have enough airspeed to take off. According to the FAA safety inspector, no pre-impact mechanical deficiencies were found during an examination of the wreckage at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5868B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5868B-1994-06-22), registration cancelled 1994-06-22, S/N 33868 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182A - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18233868 - Airframe hours: 5000 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Thunderbird Sport Parachute Cl - Registered owner: Thunderbird Sport Parachute Cl - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1993, 23 hours before - Airport: I30, Berea-Richmond Lackey, runway 21, 2,400 × 160 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 225 total, 13 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LEX, 25 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 19940402014249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940402014249A), Apr 2, 1994: Cessna 182A, Berea, KY, Destroyed. Struck a tree on takeoff. Pilot blamed down draft to failure to climb. Early liftoff and gross load possible factor ## Other investigations on N5868B (2) 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. - [NTSB MIA73FKT05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA73FKT05), Jul 15, 1972: Cessna 182 (N5868B), Homestead, FL, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW70A0020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW70A0020), Sep 21, 1969: Cessna 172G (N5868B), Pearland, TX, substantial damage 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.