CEN09LA542

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 182 · Weeping Water, NE · August 22, 2009

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 22, 2009, 13:03 local (18:03 UTC)
Place
Weeping Water, NE
Injuries
5 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N1921XCessna 182
Defining event
Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 3, 2010
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20090822017349A
Case key
74594

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilots' improper execution of soft/short field take-off procedures.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 182H: 12 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: use of policy/procedurePersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 182H: 1 caseAll aircraft: 191 casesProbable cause
Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surfaceEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensationCessna 182H: 1 caseAll aircraft: 264 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot was departing from a soft, dry, 2,200-foot turf airfield using soft/short field procedures. After becoming airborne, the airplane settled back onto the runway, became airborne, and settled onto the runway a second time. At this time the right main wheel separated and the landing gear strut dug into the terrain spinning the airplane around and bringing it to an abrupt stop. The airplane was substantially damaged. An examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies. Information contained in the NTSB Form 6120.1, as completed by the accident pilot, indicated that the airplane was five pounds under maximum gross weight at 2945 pounds.

Factual narrative

On August 22, 2009, at 1303 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182H, N1921X, registered to Lincoln Sport Parachute Club, Inc., impacted terrain during departure from Browns Airport (NE69), Weeping Water, Nebraska. Neither the airline transport pilot nor the four sky divers on board were injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was operated under provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.The pilot stated that he used a short/soft field take off procedure when departing the soft, dry, 2,200 foot turf airfield. After becoming airborne, the airplane briefly settled back onto the runway. The airplane became airborne and settled back onto the runway a second time after losing "ground effect" due to down sloping terrain; the right main wheel separating from the landing gear strut allowing the strut to dig into the ground. The airplane spun around and came to rest upright resulting in bent left and right wing spars, a bent fuselage aft of the passenger compartment, and a bent firewall. An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector revealed no pre-existing mechanical anomalies. A review of the pilot's operating handbook (POH) for the Cessna 182 showed that soft field take-offs are to be "performed with 20 degrees of flaps by lifting the airplane off the ground as soon as practical in a slightly tail-low attitude" and the airplane accelerated in ground effect if no obstacles are present in the flight path. Consulting the performance charts found in the POH, at maximum gross weight, the calculated ground roll for this type aircraft was 730 feet with 1350 feet needed to clear a 50 foot obstacle. A 15 percent increase in ground roll distance is assessed for operation from a dry, grass runway. Density altitude at the time of the accident calculates to approximately 2,195 feet. The accident aircraft was upgraded with Short take-off and landing (STOL) equipment in the form of ART R1582 wing extensions, and an engine conversion that allow for an increased take-off gross weight limit. Information contained in the NTSB Form 6120.1, as completed by the accident pilot, indicated that the airplane was five pounds under maximum gross weight at 2945 pounds.

Aircraft

Registration
N1921X
Reported as
Cessna 182 (H)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18256021
Airframe hours
4,900
Engine
Continental O470, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Skydiving · Part 91
Operator
Lincoln Sport Parachute Club Inc.
Registered owner
Lincoln Sport Parachute Club Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
NE69 · Weeping Water, NE
Destination
NE69 · Weeping Water, NE
Airport
NE69 · Browns Airport, runway 17, 2,200 × 60 ft, grass/turf

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
44
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 31, 2008
Seat
Left
Flight hours
6,133 total · 200 in this make and model · 5,733 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
160 °F, dew point 131 °F
Altimeter
30.15 inHg
Observed at
KPMV, 12 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 547 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N1921X · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.