# NTSB CEN09IA096: Cessna 182, N5495B, Fort Worth, TX, December 12, 2008

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 12, 2008, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Fort Worth, TX
- Coordinates: 32.819427, -97.359367 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8194&lon=-97.3594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69593
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09IA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69593/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69593
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09IA096

## Probable cause

Collision with a hidden obstruction while taxiing through a grass field following a forced landing. Contributing to the accident was a loss of engine power due to the pilot's failure to turn on the carburetor heat.

## Findings

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

- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure; cases with it: [Cessna 182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072702), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Following a cross-country flight, the private pilot was turning in the traffic pattern when the engine suddenly stopped producing power. He made a successful forced landing in a field. During the forced landing the pilot turned on the carburetor heat. Shortly after landing the engine began producing power again and the pilot started taxiing slowly. While moving forward at approximately two miles per hour the nose gear struck a soft spot in the terrain and the airplane nosed over, damaging the right wingtip. Weather conditions were conducive to moderate carburetor icing at cruise power and serious carburetor icing at glide power.

## Factual narrative

On December 12, 2008, about 0915 central standard time, a Cessna 182, N5495B, piloted by a private pilot, received minor damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing near Meacham International Airport (FTW), Fort Worth, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The cross-country flight originated at Pearland Regional Airport (LVJ), Houston, Texas. This incident was originally reported as an accident due to suspected spar damage to the right wing, but downgraded after no spar damage was discovered during repairs to the right wing tip. The pilot stated that as he turned downwind to base, the engine revolutions per minute dropped near idle and the engine stopped producing power. He reported switching magnetos, fuel tanks, and turning on the carburetor heat while trying to get the engine to run normally. The engine did not return to normal power and he was forced to make a successful off-field landing in a grass field about three miles from the airport. Shortly after landing, the engine began producing power again and the pilot started taxiing slowly. While moving forward at approximately two miles per hour, the nose gear struck a soft spot in the terrain and the airplane suddenly nosed over. The pilot stated he thought he turned on the carburetor heat "too late." At 0853, an automated weather reporting station at FTW reported a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius and a dew point of -1 degree Celsius. According to the carburetor icing chart in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pamphlet, FAA-P-8740-24, "Tips on Winter Flying", the airplane was operating in an area of moderate icing - cruise power, or serious icing - glide power. Both fuel tanks contained between one-quarter and one-half tank of fuel post accident. A propeller strike inspection was completed on the engine and no anomalies were found. The airplane had flown approximately 12 hours after since the accident occurred and no problems were noted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5495B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5495B), registered now, S/N 33495 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 33495
- Airframe hours: 3581
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2008
- Departed: LJV, Pearland, TX
- Destination: FTW, Fort Worth, TX
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: FTW, Meacham International Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 3, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 353 total, 2 in this make and model, 227 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Observed at: FTW, 2 nm away

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69593. 601 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 601 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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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