# NTSB CEN09LA325: Cessna 182, N4892D, Skiatook, OK, May 23, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 23, 2009, 15:02 local (20:02 UTC) - Place: Skiatook, OK - Coordinates: 36.355278, -96.011108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3553&lon=-96.0111&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73931 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA325 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73931/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73931 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA325 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that after departure and climbing to approximately 200 feet, the engine lost power and the airplane began to descend. During the forced landing the airplane struck a power line and impacted terrain resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the engine controls revealed no anomalies. The reason for loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2009, at 1502 central daylight time, a Cessna 182/A, N4892D, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Skiatook, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries and three passengers were not injured. The local flight originated from Skiatook Municipal Airport (2F6), Skiatook, Oklahoma, approximately 1500. The private pilot was conducting the flight in the furtherance of a business and was in the process of taking skydivers aloft when the accident occurred. The pilot stated that after departure the airplane climbed to an altitude of approximately two hundred feet when the engine lost revolutions per minute (rpm) and the airplane began to descend. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude or "trouble-shoot" the problem due to his low altitude and selected a grass field to perform a forced landing. During the approach to the emergency landing the airplane struck a "horizontal power cable" and the airplane spun one hundred eighty degrees from its intended route of flight and impacted the terrain. Both airplane wing leading edges sustained impact damage from the power line and were bent aft approximately ten degrees. The nose gear separated at the firewall, the fuselage was wrinkled and bent to the right at the passenger compartment, and one motor mount was broken. An examination of the airplane engine, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, established drive train continuity. An inspection of the magnetos for rotation and spark revealed no anomalies. An examination of the airplane fuel system revealed trace amounts of water in samples taken from the carburetor and sediment bowl, and traces of debris in the sediment bowl. Engine control continuity for throttle, mixture, propeller pitch control, and carburetor heat was established. The fuel mixture control was stiff to operate while the remaining controls operated smoothly. The propeller screen was clear of debris. An examination of engine maintenance records revealed that it had been 4,397 hours since the last overhaul and 4,316 hours since the last major over-haul. The recommended time between overhauls is 1,500 hours. In addition, the pilot's operating handbook for the Cessna 182 recommends an annual inspection and a complete inspection every 100 hours for aircraft that are operated commercially. Calculations of relevant meteorological data for the date, time, and location of the flight revealed a density altitude of 2,526 feet for the field elevation of 670 feet mean sea level (msl). Carburetor icing chart calculations show that the airplane was being operated in the light icing in glide or cruise power setting envelope. Data collected by the FAA inspector showed that the airplane was153 pounds over maximum gross weight and the center of gravity moment used by the pilot was incorrectly calculated. The actual calculated center of gravity (C.G.) for the airplane at the time of the accident was forward of the forward C.G. limit for this aircraft as published in the pilot’s operating handbook. According to the pilot's operating handbook for the Cessna 182, the normal climb performance chart, at maximum gross weight the airplane should have experienced a 670 foot per minute rate of climb on take-off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4892D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4892D-2017-05-23), registration cancelled 2017-05-23, S/N 34992, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34992 - Airframe hours: 4316 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O470L 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Operator: Lloyd Chapin, doing business as Skydive Airtight - Registered owner: Lloyd Chapin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 17, 2009 - Departed: 2F6, Skiatook, OK - Destination: 2F6, Skiatook, OK - Airport: 2F6, Skiatook Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 21, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 363 total, 120 in this make and model, 336 as pilot in command, 123 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KTUL, 12 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 20090523012249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090523012249A), May 23, 2009: Cessna 182A, Skiatook, OK, Destroyed. (-23) Aircraft was involved in skydiving activities; accident occurred on 9th flight of the day; aircraft refueled immediately prior to takeoff. Pilot reported… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 25, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73931. 584 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 557 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317821&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-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. --- 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.