# NTSB CEN25LA195: Cessna 182, N71149, Charlevoix, MI, June 2, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 2, 2025, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Charlevoix, MI - Coordinates: 45.30529, -85.269143 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3053&lon=-85.2691&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - 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: FAA Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200270 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200270/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200270 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA195 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain pitch control during the takeoff that resulted in multiple bounces and substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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 182M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md) ## Analysis The purpose of the training flight was for the pilot, who was employed by the skydiving operator, to become familiar with the airplane, as he had never flown it before. During the takeoff, a witness observed the airplane bounce multiple times. During the second bounce, the witness heard a loud noise, and during the third and final bounce, the witness heard an even louder noise. The witness surmised that the third bounce was “so violent” that he thought the airplane as going to become inverted. The airplane became airborne and departed, while remaining in the traffic pattern. During the no flap landing, the pilot reported that as he began pulling back on the yoke to flare, he noticed that the nose of the airplane was not pitching up. The airplane landed on the nose landing gear, which sustained a flat tire. The airplane came to rest upright on the right side of the runway and the pilot was able to egress without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the engine compartment and to the cockpit floor. Postaccident examination of the flight control system found an excessive amount of slack in the elevator control cables due to the fuselage damage sustained from the multiple bounces that occurred during the takeoff. The substantial damage resulted in excessive slack to the elevator control cables that resulted in the pilot not having adequate pitch control during the landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71149](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71149), registered now, S/N 18259511, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 182M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182m) (registry code 2072728) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18259511 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 4979.6 - Engines: Continental Motors IO-520-D 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Skydive Harbor Springs Inc, doing business as Skydive Harbor Springs Inc - Registered owner: Skydive Harbor Springs Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2024, 47 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CVX, Charlevoix Muni, runway 09/27, 4,549 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 6, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 632 total, 286 in this make and model, 526 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KCVX - METAR: KCVX 021515Z AUTO 22009KT 10SM CLR 20/07 A2992 RMK AO2 ## 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 20250602008879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250602008879A), Jun 2, 2025: Cessna 182M, Charlevoix, MI, Substantial damage. On June 3rd, 2025, at 1145 EDT, a Cessna 182 aircraft, registered as [privacy data omitted] and [privacy data omitted], sustained significant damage during a… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200270. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18873406&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA195%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18872830&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Witness - statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18873416&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Federal aviation administration - statements (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18873600&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20ASI%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Cessna 182M owner's manual excerpts - operating checklist (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 396 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18873276&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cessna%20182M%20Owner%27s%20Manual%20Excerpts%20-%20Operating%20Checklist-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.