# NTSB CEN20CA411: Cessna R182, N6208T, Marksville, LA, September 17, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 17, 2020, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Marksville, LA - Coordinates: 31.094722, -92.069168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0947&lon=-92.0692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102015 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA411 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102015/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102015 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA411 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, during which he failed to ensure the landing gear handle in the “down” position which resulted in the landing gear retracting during takeoff, a loss of directional control, and a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear selector](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023234/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna R182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/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 R182, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072734), [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. - [Takeoff: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane, and that during the takeoff roll, he pulled the yoke back to stop the nosewheel from shimmying, added power, checked the engine performance, and then added more power. The airplane’s nose dropped slightly, and he added more power. Subsequently, the nose dropped further and contacted the ground. The pilot reduced engine power, and the airplane then skidded down the runway and exited onto grass, which resulted in the right forward fuselage, right outboard wing, and right horizontal stabilizer and elevator sustaining substantial damage. One of the first steps of the Preflight Checklist is “Landing Gear Lever – Gear Down.” The pilot reported that he liked “to touch each item” as he called it out but that he “did not do that on this phase of flight.” According to the mechanic who recovered the airplane, he found the landing gear “handle” in the “up” position and the nose landing gear and right main landing gear retracted. The mechanic was able to extend the gear using the emergency hand pump. He then turned on the master switch and saw a green gear position light, indicating that all three landing gear were down and locked. The mechanic added that he did not see anything that would have caused the gear to collapse. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6208T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6208T-2025-06-16), registration cancelled 2025-06-16, S/N R18201936, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna R182 (No Series) - Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18201936 - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 3586 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 10, 2020 - Destination: LFT, Lafayette, LA - Airport: MKV, Marksville Muni, runway 04, 3,799 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 28, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 467 total, 56 in this make and model, 467 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KESF, 21 nm away ## 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 20200917019919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200917019919A), Sep 17, 2020: Cessna R182, Marksville, LA, Substantial damage. 09/18/2020 Narrative of events: Drove to lafayette airport after dark with my wife. Got the rental book from [privacy data omitted] and went out and executed… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102015. 8.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11418357&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 9 photos, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11385166&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=20photo411-Rel.pdf - Miscellaneous information - preflight checklist excerpt (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11386065&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pages%20from%20R182%201983%20D1235-13%20IM-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11388867&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airplane%20Logbook%20excerpt%20_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - communication summary - l lucius recovery A&P (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11416711&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=20Communication%20Summary411A_P-Rel.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.