# NTSB CHI89LA138: Cessna 182, N5158D, New Castle, IN, July 18, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 17, 1989, 19:20 local (Jul 18, 1989, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: New Castle, IN
- Coordinates: 39.919166, -85.359931 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9192&lon=-85.3599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14384
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89LA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14384/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA138

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTIAN DIRECTIONAL DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE.  THE DITCH WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted
  - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF, THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RGT SIDE OF THE 1200 X 18 FT GRASS STRIP & WENT INTO A DITCH. THE PLT RPRTD THAT HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE HEARD THE ENG 'SPUTTER.'  NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE WAS FOUND. DUE TO HEART PROBLEMS & DIABETES, THE 67 YR OLD PLT HAD NOT BEEN ISSUED A MED CERT SINCE 1977. THE LAST ENTRY IN HIS LOGBOOK WAS IN 1959. AT THAT TIME, HE HAD LOGGED 800 HRS OF FLT TIME. SHORTLY AFTER THE ACDNT, HE SUFFERED A SERIES OF STROKES, WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM BEING INTERVIEWED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5158D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5158D-1989-09-07), registration cancelled 1989-09-07, S/N 51258 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 51258
- Airframe hours: 1776
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-C 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Lefavour, Emmett L.
- Registered owner: Lefavour, Emmett L
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 1988, 7 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Destination: NONE
- Airport: NONE, runway 18, 1,200 × 18 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: expired; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 6 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IND, 44 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 19890717022579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890717022579A), Jul 17, 1989: Cessna 182A, New Castle, IN, Substantial damage. Believed engine sputtered on takeoff. Aborted and ran off runway into ditch. Medical certificate denied.

## Other investigations on N5158D (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 CHI72DEA26](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72DEA26), Jan 1, 1972: Cessna 182 (N5158D), New Castle, IN, 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.

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