# NTSB CEN12IA385: Cessna 182, N287TC, Fowlerville, MI, May 27, 2012

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: May 27, 2012, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Fowlerville, MI
- Coordinates: 42.884166, -84.056114 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8842&lon=-84.0561&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: East Michigan FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84046
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12IA385
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84046/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84046
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12IA385

## Probable cause

The airplane’s encounter with clear air turbulence, which caused a momentary loss of control and minor damage to the airplane.

## Findings

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

- [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=2072730), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2072730), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182N, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072730), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The commercial pilot was maneuvering around clouds during a skydiving operation when the airplane abruptly made a steep bank to the left and continued to dive. He made control corrections to recover the airplane and soon after landed uneventfully. The pilot believed that he hit a patch of turbulence that caused the airplane to maneuver in such a manner. A postflight examination revealed wrinkles in the top skin of the airplane’s wings, which was later determined to be minor damage.

## Factual narrative

The commercial pilot was maneuvering around clouds during a skydiving operation when the airplane abruptly made a steep bank to the left and continued to dive. He made control corrections to recover the airplane and soon after landed uneventfully. The pilot believes that he hit a patch of turbulence that caused the airplane to maneuver in such a manner. The pilot was a new skydiving pilot and was inexperienced with flying an airplane loaded with jumpers. The post incident examination revealed minor damage to the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N287TC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N287TC), registered now, S/N 18260183, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (N)
- Registry model: [Cessna 182N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182n) (registry code 2072730) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18260183
- Airframe hours: 6349
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Skydiving, Part 91
- Operator: Capital City Skydiving
- Registered owner: Aivcon Unc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 9, 2012
- Airport: 65G, Maple Grove Airport, runway 27, 3,050 × 110 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 14, 2011; flight hours: 478 total, 159 in this make and model, 404 as pilot in command, 104 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Observed at: KOZW

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20120527026939I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120527026939I), May 27, 2012: Cessna 182N, Fowlerville, MI, Minor damage. While climbing to altitude for a skydiving flight the aircraft encountered tubulence that caused a rapid loss of altitude and excessive bank angle. The flight…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84046. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 934 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377648&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Telephone Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377650&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation-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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