# NTSB CEN24LA142: Cessna 182F, N3322U, Ben Wheeler, TX, March 30, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 30, 2024, 13:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Ben Wheeler, TX - Coordinates: 32.428211, -95.711126 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4282&lon=-95.7111&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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): 194010 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194010/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194010 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA142 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control while landing in a gusting wind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=2072714), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072714), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072714), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072714), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 182F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072714), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072714), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 182F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072714), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 182F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072714), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was performing a practice soft field landing on a grass runway. During the landing flare, the wind increased, the airplane drifted to the left, and the indicated airspeed decreased by 10 mph. The pilot attempted to correct for the deviation when the airplane developed an excessive sink rate and landed hard on the sand adjacent to the left edge of the runway. The nose landing gear and propeller dug into the sand, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the left aileron, the rudder, the vertical stabilizer, and the right wing strut. Wind at the time of the accident was 210° at 11 knots gusting to 17 knots. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3322U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3322U), registered now, S/N 18254722, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182F - Registry model: [Cessna 182F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182f) (registry code 2072714) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18254722 - Year built: 1963 - Airframe hours: 5317.1 - Engines: Continental O-470-R-81-B 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 2023 - Departed: TA37, Ben Wheeler, TX - Destination: TA37, Ben Wheeler, TX - Airport: TA37, Vaca Moo Airport, runway 18, 2,480 × 50 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 24, 2023; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 12,718 total, 3,505 in this make and model, 8,631 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KTYR, 16 nm away - METAR: 301800Z AUTO 21011G17KT 10SM SCT033 24/16 A2999 RMK T02400160 ## 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 20240330011089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240330011089A), Mar 30, 2024: Cessna 182F, Ben Wheeler, TX, Substantial damage. Jump plane was participating at an airshow and utilized nearby grass strip that was only 50FT wide for jump operations. While returning to TA37 after releasing… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194010. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16987464&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20Form%20CEN24LA142_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16986918&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA142-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.