# NTSB CHI85LA068: Cessna 182RG, N738CE, Lafayette, IN, December 7, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 7, 1984, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Lafayette, IN
- Coordinates: 40.420063, -86.920204 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4201&lon=-86.9202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12971
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85LA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12971/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA068

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft unattended/engine(s) running - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - building(nonresidential)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE TURNING THE PROP BY HAND TO LUBRICATE THE ENGINE IT UNINTENTIONALLY STARTED AND RAN AT APRX 1700 RPM. THE ACFT WAS NOT CHOCKED OR TIED DOWN AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT SET. THE ACFT TRAVELED ACROSS THE RAMP AND COLLIDED WITH AN EMPTY T-HANGAR. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE MAGNETOS WERE FOUND SWITCHED TO THE BOTH POSITION, THE MIXTURE WAS RICH, MASTER SWITCH WAS OFF AND THE THROTTLE WAS OPEN APRX 1 1/2 INCHES. THE MAGNETOS WERE LATER TESTED AND FOUND TO OPERATE NORMALLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N738CE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N738CE-1991-02-01), registration cancelled 1991-02-01, S/N R18200910 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182RG
- Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R18200910
- Airframe hours: 1243
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-J3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Arlco, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 2, 1984, 99 hours before
- Departed: LAFAYETTE, IN
- Destination: AXN, ALEXANORIA, MN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: LAF, Purdue Univ.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 6,350 total, 1,369 in this make and model, 6,050 as pilot in command, 209 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 25 °F

## 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 19841207065579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841207065579A), Dec 7, 1984: Cessna R182, Lafayette, IN, Substantial damage. Turned propeller by hand to loosen oil with ignition switch on and mixture in. Engine started, aircraft hit hangar.

## Other investigations on N738CE (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA80FKG10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA80FKG10), Nov 21, 1979: Cessna 182 (N738CE), Dawson, GA, substantial damage

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.
