# NTSB CEN20CA193: Cessna 182, N5179D, Ionia, MI, May 22, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 22, 2020, 19:18 local (23:18 UTC) - Place: Ionia, MI - Coordinates: 42.937778, -85.056114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9378&lon=-85.0561&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101326 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101326/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101326 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA193 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing was the pilot getting his shoe caught in the rudder pedal. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02050000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was performing an instrument approach to the runway following a local flight. The airplane was configured with full flaps and the pilot's intention was to perform a three-point landing. The wind was reported as calm; however, the pilot reported seeing smoke that indicated there was a light crosswind from the right. After touching down on the runway the tailwheel began to "shimmy violently," and the airplane began to drift to the left. The pilot applied rudder to get the airplane to track "a straight path" and then turned right to correct back to the runway's centerline. To recorrect to the centerline, the pilot applied full left rudder. At that point, either the pilot's "left shoe caught on something and jammed the pedal, or the left rudder pedal [became] stuck in the full left rudder position." The pilot couldn't move the pedal to maintain directional control and the airplane ground looped causing substantial damage to the right aileron and the right elevator. A postaccident examination showed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was performing an instrument approach to the runway following a local flight. The airplane was configured with full flaps and the pilot's intention was to perform a three-point landing. The wind was reported as calm; however, the pilot reported seeing smoke that indicated there was a light crosswind from the right. After touching down on the runway the tailwheel began to "shimmy violently," and the airplane began to drift to the left. The pilot applied rudder to get the airplane to track "a straight path" and then turned right to correct back to the runway's centerline. To recorrect to the centerline, the pilot applied full left rudder. At that point, either the pilot's "left shoe caught on something and jammed the pedal, or the left rudder pedal [became] stuck in the full left rudder position." The pilot couldn't move the pedal to maintain directional control and the airplane ground looped causing substantial damage to the right aileron and the right elevator. A postaccident examination showed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5179D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5179D), registered now, S/N 51279, built 1958 (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: 51279 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 2165.9 - Engines: Continental Motors O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: School Of Missionary Aviation Technology - Registered owner: School Of Missionary Aviation Technology - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 27, 2020 - Departed: Y70, Ionia, MI - Destination: Y70, Ionia, MI - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: Y70, Ionia County, runway 27, 4,298 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,870 total, 21 in this make and model, 8,253 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Other flight crew; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 5, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 168 total, 0 in this make and model, 103 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KY70 ## 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 20200522007419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200522007419A), May 22, 2020: Cessna 182A, Ionia, MI, Substantial damage. On may 22, 2020 at 1918 local time, a tailwheel equipped Cessna CE-182A aircraft, N5179D, registered to a flight school and operated by an airline transport… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101326. 9.8 MB in all. - Accident Photographs (item 1, .PDF, 539 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485679&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs%20-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Airframe Examination Report (item 3, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485681&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20Examination%20Report%20-Master.PDF - Most Recent Maintenance Records (item 4, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485682&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Most%20Recent%20Maintenance%20Records%20-Master.PDF - Tailwheel Conversion Documents (item 5, .PDF, 949 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485683&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Tailwheel%20Conversion%20Documents%20-Master.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.