# NTSB CEN11CA600: Cessna 182C, N9011T, Grand Marais, MN, August 27, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 27, 2011, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Grand Marais, MN - Coordinates: 47.822776, -90.407218 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8228&lon=-90.4072&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81623 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA600 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81623/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81623 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA600 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision to land the airplane when he realized the airplane's performance was insufficient to clear approaching terrain during the initial climb after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The local scenic flight departed from a lake in a southeasterly direction and the wind was reported at 8 knots from the south-southeast. Shortly after becoming airborne, while approximately 100 feet above ground level, the pilot noted that the airplane's airspeed was not increasing as he expected and that the airplane was not climbing. In an attempt to increase airspeed and ultimately gain altitude, the pilot lowered the nose but the airspeed did not increase. Due to terrain ahead of the airplane, the pilot attempted a landing on the remaining lake area. During the attempted landing, the airplane's floats contacted terrain, which was located between the main lake and a bay, and the airplane nosed over. A postaccident examination of the airplane showed substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage; no airframe or engine anomalies were noted. The pilot estimated his weight and balance at the gross weight limit and reported that he could have increased his safety margins by using all available back-taxi distance and more conservative abort points. ## Factual narrative The local scenic flight departed from a lake in a southeasterly direction, and the wind was reported at 8 knots from the south/southeast. Shortly after becoming airborne to approximately 100 feet above ground level, the pilot noted the airplane's airspeed was not increasing as he expected, and the airplane was not climbing. In an attempt to increase airspeed and ultimately gain altitude, the pilot lowered the nose, but the airspeed did not increase. Due to the terrain ahead of the airplane, the pilot attempted a landing on the remaining lake area. During the attempted landing, the airplane's floats contacted terrain, which was located between the main lake and a bay, and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed substantial damage to the both wings and the fuselage, and no airframe or engine anomalies were noted. The pilot estimated his weight and balance at the gross weight limitation and reported he could have increased his safety margins by using all available back-taxi distance and more conservative abort points. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9011T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9011T-2018-06-01), registration cancelled 2018-06-01, S/N 52911, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182C - Registry model: [Cessna 182C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182c) (registry code 2072708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52911 - Airframe hours: 5165 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 2011 - Departed: 0G5, Grand Marais, MN - Destination: 0G5, Grand Marais, MN - Airport: runway 09, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 8, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,250 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,145 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg ## 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 20110827019799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110827019799A), Aug 27, 2011: Cessna 182C, Grand Marais, MN, Substantial damage. At approximately 1350 on Saturday, August 27, 2011 aircraft N9011T departed devils track lake, MN heading se, winds were from the south to southeast. After… ## Other investigations on N9011T (1) 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 CHI72FEI03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72FEI03), Jul 7, 1971: Cessna 182 (N9011T), Northfield, OH, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 16, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81623. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353630&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. --- 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.