CHI98LA246

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 182L · Mackinac Island, MI · July 10, 1998

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 9, 1998, 21:15 local (Jul 10, 1998, 01:15 UTC)
Place
Mackinac Island, MI
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N42184Cessna 182L
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed · report May 19, 1999
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19980709016339A
Case key
10957

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to attain a stabilized approach and a touchdown point. The factors contributing to the accident were the pilot in command's improper use of flaps and his not performing a go-around. An additional factor was the pilot in command not using all available runway during landing roll. The fence post which the aircraft impacted was also a factor.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

OverrunLanding - roll
Proper touchdown point - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Flaps - improper use ofPilot in commandFactor
Go-around - not performedPilot in commandFactor
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - fence postFactor
All available runway - not usedPilot in commandFactor

Analysis

The airplane received substantial damage on impact with poles during a landing overrun on runway 26 (3501' x 75', dry/asphalt) at Mackinac Island Airport, on Mackinac Island, Michigan. The pilot reported the he had selected 20 degrees and 40 degrees of flaps on base and final respectively. He did not realize that the flaps were up until 1/3 down the runway at which point the airspeed was 80 KIAS. He had also stated that the aircraft touched down 1/2 down the runway. Upon examination of the aircraft, the flaps selector and associated indicator were indicating 0 degrees. A functional check was successfully performed three times by cycling the flaps through 0 degrees, 10 degrees, 20 degrees and 40 degrees.

Factual narrative

On July 9, 1998, at 2115 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182L, N42184, piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage on impact with poles during a landing overrun on runway 26 (3501' x 75', dry/asphalt) at Mackinac Island Airport, on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating on a VFR flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed New Hudson Airport, near New Hudson, Michigan, at 1915.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he had selected 20 degrees and 40 degrees of flaps on base and final, respectively. He had flared over the runway numbers and was carried 1/3 down the runway at which point he realized that the flaps were not extended and that the airspeed was approximately 80 KIAS. He had considered a go-around but did not trust his flaps. He also stated that the aircraft touched down 1/2 down the runway and had little braking action due to his speed and the down slope of the runway. In trying to avoid a fence and gravel piles at the end of the runway, he turned the aircraft to the right. The aircraft stopped after impacting with a fence and poles at the northwest corner of the airport.

The pilot told the airport manager that he was 1/2 down the runway when he realized that the flaps were not extended. Examination of the airplane revealed that the flap selector and associated indicator were at 0 degrees. As a functional check, the airport manager successfully cycled the flaps three times through 0 degrees, 10 degrees, 20 degrees and 40 degrees.

The Cessna 182 owner's manual shows the ground roll distance, at a gross weight of 2800 lbs, an approach speed of 69 mph and a flap setting of 40 degrees at sea level conditions, to be 590 feet. Based upon a conversation with the pilot, the weight of the aircraft at the time of the accident was reported to be less than 2800 lbs.

Aircraft

Registration
N42184
Reported as
Cessna 182L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18258890
Airframe hours
2,500
Engine
Continental O-470-R-20, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
William Joseph Natter
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 9, 1998 · 25 hours before
Departed
Y47 · New Hudson, MI
Destination
MCD
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
MCD · Mackinac Island, runway 26, 3,501 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
45
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
218 total · 164 in this make and model · 167 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 63 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
MCD

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.