# NTSB CHI03LA314: Cessna 182S, N775WB, Joliet, IL, September 21, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 21, 2003, 15:55 local (20:55 UTC) - Place: Joliet, IL - Coordinates: 41.517776, -88.175552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5178&lon=-88.1756&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration- DPA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57995 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA314 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57995/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA314 ## Probable cause The pilot not performing a go-around when the other airplane taxied onto the landing runway, which resulted in the pilot not attaining the proper touchdown point. Factors to the accident include the failure of the alternator, the complete loss of electrical power, the other airplane, and the ravine. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - electrical system,alternator - failure (contributing factor) - electrical system - failure (contributing factor) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Overrun, landing - roll - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ravine (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane overran the end of runway 12 and encountered a ravine. The pilot reported the airplane had lost all electrical power while in cruise flight. The pilot stated that an airplane taxied onto the runway as he was on final approach. He decided to land over the airplane, and touched down approximately 3/4 down the runway. The flaps were not available due to the electrical failure. The airplane subsequently overran the end of the runway. Subsequent to the accident, the Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) performed a normal start of the engine utilizing an auxiliary power unit. The engine started with no hesitation and ran at various power settings with no anomalies. Inspection of the electrical system revealed that the alternator had an open field, resulting in the complete discharge of the electrical system. ## Factual narrative On September 21, 2003, at 1555 central daylight time, a Cessna 182S, N775WB, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it overran the end of runway 12 (2,937 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) and impacted a ravine at Joliet Regional Airport (JOT), Joliet, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed Iowa City Municipal Airport (IOW), Iowa City, Iowa, at 1215. According to the pilot's written statement, the airplane started to lose electrical power approximately 12 miles west of JOT. The pilot reported the electrical power "came back sporadically and at 9 miles west I called an emergency..., telling them where I was and that I intended to land on runway 12." The pilot stated after making the emergency call, the airplane lost all electrical power. The pilot reported that prior to landing on runway 12, he observed an airplane taxi onto the runway. The pilot stated he advanced the throttle; however, the engine did not respond. The pilot reported, "I had no other choice but to land over the plane on the runway. Flaps were not extended because of the electrical failure, therefore my touchdown was 3/4 the way down the runway." The pilot stated the airplane overran the end of the runway and traversed down a ravine. Representatives of the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) performed an inspection of the airplane subsequent to the accident. The Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) performed a normal start of the engine utilizing an auxiliary power unit. The engine started with no hesitation and ran at various power settings with no anomalies. Inspection of the electrical system revealed that the alternator had an open field, resulting in the complete discharge of the electrical system. During a conversation with the Safety Board IIC, the pilot reported he should have preformed a go-around upon seeing the aircraft taxi onto the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N775WB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N775WB), registered now, S/N 18280134, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182S - Registry model: [Cessna 182S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182s) (registry code 2072701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18280134 - Airframe hours: 190.9 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sheldon C Bell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 2002, 172.1 hours before - Departed: IOW, Iowa City, IA - Destination: JOT, Joliet, IL - Airport: JOT, Joliet Regional Airport, runway 12, 2,937 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 27, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 750 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: JOT ## 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 20030921028949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030921028949A), Sep 21, 2003: Cessna 182S, Joliet, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot experienced intermittent loss of electrical power to the aircraft during a flight in the Joliet airport. During his approach to land an aircraft… 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.