# NTSB CHI89LA123: Cessna 182A, N3939D, Tecumseh, MI, July 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1989, 13:49 local (17:49 UTC)
- Place: Tecumseh, MI
- Coordinates: 42.000179, -83.939018 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0002&lon=-83.9390&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14374
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89LA123
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14374/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA123

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.  THE EMBANKMENT (DIRT BANK) WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THE ENG SUDDENLY LOST POWER AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU AN ESTD ALT OF 685 FT AFTER TAKEOFF. HE STATED HE FOLLOWED THE EMERGENCY CHECKLIST (INCLUDING THE USE OF CARB HEAT), BUT THE ENG WOULD NOT RESTART. DRG AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE ACFT HIT AN EMBANKMENT & NOSED OVER. FERROUS & NON-FERROUS METALLIC MATERIAL WAS FOUND IN THE ENG OIL SCREEN, BUT A TEARDOWN OF THE ENG FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 83 & 69 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, CARB ICING WAS POSSIBLE AT GLIDE POWER, BUT ICING WOULD NOT HAVE ACCUMULATED AT RATED POWER. THE PLT NOTED THAT BEFORE THE FLT, HE DRAINED FUEL FROM EACH OF THE SUMPS, USING A SUMP DRAIN INSPN CUP, UNTIL HE WAS SATISFIED THERE WAS NO WATER OR OTHER CONTAMINATES VISIBLE IN THE FUEL SAMPLES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3939D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3939D), registered now, S/N 34639, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182A
- Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 43639
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lange, Harold L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 3TE
- Destination: 3TE
- Airport: 3TE, Al Meyers, runway 18, 2,680 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 351 total, 86 in this make and model, 302 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DTW, 29 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 19890702024599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890702024599A), Jul 2, 1989: Cessna 182A, Tecumseh, MI, Substantial damage. Engine quit on climbout. Hit embankment,nosed over on forced landing. Carburetor icing suspect. Metal in oil screen

## Other investigations on N3939D (3)

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 CHI79FEC42](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEC42), Aug 12, 1979: Cessna 182 (N3939D), Tecumseh, MI, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI71FEC49](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71FEC49), May 9, 1971: Cessna 182 (N3939D), Tecumseh, MI, substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI71FDW02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71FDW02), Jun 21, 1970: Cessna 182 (N3939D), Tecumseh, MI, 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.