# NTSB CHI83FA365: Cessna 182, N6351A, Marseilles, IL, August 6, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1983, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Marseilles, IL
- Coordinates: 41.319915, -88.67958 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3199&lon=-88.6796&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12013
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83FA365
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12013/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83FA365

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON A PARACHUTE JUMPING MISSION. AFTER CLIMBING TO 9000 FT MSL, 4 SKY DIVERS JUMPED OUT & THE PLT BEGAN A DESCENT BACK TO THE ARPT. THE ACFT WAS SEEN LEVEL AT APRX 500 FT AGL & IN THE APRX POSITION FOR A DOWNWIND LEG FOR A LEFT PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 36. ABOUT 1/2 MI NORTH OF THE NORMAL TURN POINT FOR THE BASE LEG, THE ACFT BEGAN A STEEP DESCENDING LEFT TURN. WITNESSES DESCRIBED A BANK ANGLE OF 45 TO 75 DEG & A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE OF 20 TO 30 DEG. ONE OF THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE BANK AND DESCENT ANGLES THEN BEGAN TO DECREASE, BUT AT IMPACT, THE NOSE WAS STILL LOW & THE BANK ANGLE WAS ABOUT 20 DEG. OBSERVERS SAW NO INDICATION OF PLT CONTROL MOVEMENT BEFORE IMPACT. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF AN INFLT FAILURE/MALFUNCTION. THE PLT'S WIFE SAID THAT ONOCCASIONS, HE HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERE HEADACHES, BUT NEVER TO AN ALARMING POINT. SHE REPORTED THAT HE TOOK ONLY ASPRIN FOR THE HEADACHES. PATHOLOGICAL & TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMS REFLECTED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT INCAPACTIATING PROBLEM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6351A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6351A-1984-05-24), registration cancelled 1984-05-24, S/N 33151 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 33151
- Airframe hours: 3502
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Skydiving, Part 91
- Operator: Prarie Lake Paracenter
- Registered owner: See Narrative
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 1983, 59 hours before
- Airport: 68IL, Prarie Lake, runway 36, 2,540 × 120 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 812 total, 374 in this make and model, 696 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DPA, 36 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830806039109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830806039109A), Aug 6, 1983: Cessna 182, Marseilles, IL, Destroyed. Observed to enter nose down steep bank on turning base. No attempt to recover. Pilot had prior severe headaches.

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.

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