# NTSB CEN21LA178: Cessna 182, N94810, Austin, TX, April 1, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 1, 2021, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Austin, TX - Coordinates: 30.197429, -97.666306 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1974&lon=-97.6663&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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): 102864 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102864/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102864 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA178 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while turning onto the taxiway in variable wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that following his uneventful landing in variable and gusty wind conditions and as he was about to make a 120-degree left turn to exit the runway onto the taxiway, the airplane would not straighten despite rudder and brake inputs. The airplane continued the left turn and exited the taxiway into the grass and struck a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the airplane’s brake system and reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. At the time of the accident, the pilot was making the turn off runway 35R with wind from 040o at 7 knots. However, during the previous hour the wind was variable from 140o to 240o creating the potential for windshear. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the landing, in variable and gusty wind conditions, was uneventful. During the landing roll he aligned the airplane with the left edge of the runway to facilitate a left turn onto taxiway “K.” He slowly started the 120-degree left turn; however, the airplane would not straighten despite right rudder or brake input. The airplane continued to turn left until it exited the taxiway, rolled onto the grass, and impacted a taxiway sign. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s brake system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. At the time of the accident, the AUS METAR indicated wind was from 040 at 7 knots. In addition, it reported that the wind direction varied between 250-140 degrees during the previous hour which is consistent with the potential for windshear ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94810](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94810), registered now, S/N 18266515, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (Q) - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18266515 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 2213 - Engines: Continental Motors O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 2020 - Departed: 2KL, Sunrise Beach Village, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: AUS, Austin-Bergstrom Intl Airport, runway 35R, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 31, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,441 total, 321 in this make and model, 3,400 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.52 inHg - Observed at: AUS ## 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 20210401007189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210401007189A), Apr 1, 2021: Cessna 182Q, Austin, TX, Substantial damage. Turning final, it was choppy with a cross wind reported at gusting 17 KTS as I recall. Air speed was 75 -80 KTS, touched down as planned. Continued to taxiway… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102864. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12166403&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of email - FAA inspector regarding airplane damage and examination (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 845 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12170514&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROE%20faa-Rel.pdf - Record of email - NTSB meteorologist (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 474 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12219646&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROE%20WX-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.