# NTSB CEN12CA065: Cessna 182J, N3051F, Alexandria, MN, November 12, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 11, 2011, 19:15 local (Nov 12, 2011, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Alexandria, MN - Coordinates: 45.866111, -95.394721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8661&lon=-95.3947&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82312 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82312/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82312 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA065 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the night landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Electrical power system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure; cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane lost electrical power prior to a night landing. He said that, during the landing flare, the stall warning horn sounded, and he lost sight of the runway lights on the right side of the airplane. The airplane departed the runway and sustained substantial firewall damage when the nose landing gear impacted a runway sign and then buckled under the airplane. Except for the loss of electrical power, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the airplane lost electrical power prior to a night landing. During the landing flare the stall warning sounded and he lost sight of the runway lights on the right side of the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial firewall damage when the nose landing gear impacted a runway sign and then buckled under the airplane. Except for the loss of electrical power, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3051F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3051F-2013-06-18), registration cancelled 2013-06-18, S/N 18257151, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182J - Registry model: [Cessna 182J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182j) (registry code 2072722) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18257151 - Airframe hours: 9500 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: St Cloud Civ Air Pat Flying Club Inc - Registered owner: St Cloud Civ Air Pat Flying Club Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 2011 - Departed: DIK, Dickinson, ND - Destination: AXN, Alexandria, MN - Airport: AXN, Chandler Field Airport, runway 31, 5,100 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 735 total, 510 in this make and model, 735 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: AXN ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 8, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82312. 780 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 780 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358658&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.