# NTSB CEN09CA264: Cessna 182T, N345TJ, Rangely, CO, April 22, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 22, 2009, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Rangely, CO
- Coordinates: 40.089721, -108.757774 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0897&lon=-108.7578&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 19, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73718
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA264
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73718/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73718
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA264

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing with a crosswind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072703), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Cessna 182T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072703), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182T, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072703), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot was on a cross country flight in his single-engine airplane when he decided to make a unscheduled stop at another airport to use the rest room. During landing, when the airplane was approximately 20-feet-above the ground, it encountered a light crosswind from the right. The pilot compensated but the airplane drifted further to the left. The airplane contacted the runway and bounced three times before it went off the left side of and collided with taxiway identifier sign. The airplane came to an abrupt stop but remained upright. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot was on a cross country flight in his single-engine airplane when he decided to make a unscheduled stop at another airport for personal reasons. During landing, when the airplane was approximately 20-feet-above the ground, it encountered a light crosswind from the right. The pilot compensated but the airplane drifted further to the left. The airplane contacted the runway and bounced three times before it went off the left side of and collided with taxiway identifier sign. The airplane came to an abrupt stop but remained upright. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N345TJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N345TJ), registered now, S/N 18281469, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182T
- Registry model: [Cessna 182T](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182t) (registry code 2072703) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18281469
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Global Lease Finance LLC
- Registered owner: Global Lease Finance LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LAR, Laramie, WY
- Destination: 4V0, Rangely, CO
- Airport: 4V0, Rangely Airport, runway 24

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; flight hours: 184 total, 20 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20090422006679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090422006679A), Apr 22, 2009: Cessna 182T, Rangely, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot departed from laramie, WY at about 10:30. His destination was scottsdale, AZ. On the final approach to runway 24 the airspeed was apparently…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73718. 514 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 480 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316705&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313586&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF
- FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313583&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF

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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