- Date
- November 9, 2002, 10:41 local (15:41 UTC)
- Place
- Wheatfield, IN
- Injuries
- 4 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N253RCessna 182N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA - South Bend FSDO
- FAA report
- 20021109035629A
- Case key
- 56061
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot not maintaining aircraft control and the pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting wind condition. Factors to the accident were the gusting wind condition and the inadvertent stall at a low altitude.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While on initial climb after takeoff the airplane encountered a wind gust, stalled, and subsequently impacted the terrain. The pilot stated he departed on runway 27 and encountered a "gust of wind from the south" and the airplane stalled. The pilot reported that he recovered from the stalled condition and then experienced another stall. The pilot stated he did not recover from the second stall prior to the impact with the terrain. At 1053 a weather observation station recorded the wind direction and speed as 200 degrees magnetic at 19 knots gusting to 24 knots.
Factual narrative
On November 9, 2002, at 1041 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182N, N253R, owned and piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with the terrain while on initial climb after takeoff from the Flying J Airport, Wheatfield, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his three passengers reported minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot's written statement, he departed on runway 27 and encountered a "gust of wind from the south" and the airplane stalled. The pilot reported that he recovered from the stalled condition and then experienced another stall. The pilot stated he did not recover from the second stall prior to the impact with the terrain.
At 1053 a weather observation station, located 13 nautical miles northeast of the accident site, recorded the wind direction and speed as 200 degrees magnetic at 19 knots gusting to 24 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N253R
- Reported as
- Cessna 182N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18260281
- Airframe hours
- 3,897.18
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John C. Perzee
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 24, 2002 · 15.55 hours before
- Departed
- IN61 · Wheatfield, IN
- Destination
- IN61 · Wheatfield, IN
- Airport
- IN61 · Flying J Airport, runway 27, 2,600 × 80 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- July 15, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 810 total · 642 in this make and model · 15 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 19 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.64 inHg
- Observed at
- VPZ, 13 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.