CHI98LA357

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 182K · Baldwin, WI · September 20, 1998

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 20, 1998, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
Place
Baldwin, WI
Injuries
5 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N2689QCessna 182K
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 17, 1999
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19980920034879A
Case key
44006

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 inadequate preflight planning and preparation, and his failure to stop on the wet, grassy runway. A related factor was the wet grass.

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.

On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterTakeoff - aborted
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - grass
Terrain condition - wetFactor
Aborted takeoff - attemptedPilot in command

Analysis

The pilot stated that the airplane was loaded to the maximum gross weight. He said that on the takeoff roll the airplane did not appear to accelerate, and he anticipated a liftoff speed of 60 to 65 knots. He said he then attempted to stop the airplane; however the brakes locked on the wet grass and the airplane exited the runway at the end and crossed a road before coming to a stop. The pilot did not indicate any mechanical difficulties with the airplane prior to the accident. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction.

Factual narrative

On September 20, 1998, at 0830 central daylight time, a Cessna 182K, N2689Q, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from a private strip (2,600' wet/grass), near Baldwin, Wisconsin. The pilot and parachutists reported no injuries. The pilot stated that the airplane did not appear to be accelerating as he had expected, therefore he attempted to abort the takeoff; however, was unable to stop the airplane on the remaining runway due to wet grass conditions. The local skydiving flight was operating under provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot said the engine started up with no problem and the run-up prior to attempting takeoff showed normal indications. He said that the airplane was loaded to, "... the upper limit of max gross weight." He indicated that this was his first flight of the day and the grass runway was wet. He said that he waited for the airplane to reach a speed of 60 to 65 knots for liftoff, but the airplane did not accelerate as he thought it should during the takeoff roll. He said he then attempted to stop the airplane on the remaining runway; however the brakes locked on the wet grass and the airplane exited the runway at the end and crossed a road before coming to a stop. The pilot did not indicate any mechanical malfunction of the airplane prior to the accident.

The owner and operator of the jump school told Federal Aviation Administration inspectors that on the day prior to the accident the pilot was carrying jumpers in the same airplane; however, those departures were into a, "... strong headwind."

Subsequent to the accident an examination of the airplane failed to reveal any mechanical anomalies that could not be associated with the impact. The engine and flight controls moved freely and operated. Spark plugs contained combustion deposits. The engine rotated with continuity throughout and there was thumb compression on all cylinders. Both magnetos sparked.

Aircraft

Registration
N2689Q
Reported as
Cessna 182K
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18257889
Airframe hours
5,400
Engine
Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Registered owner
Kerry D. Mc Cauley
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
WI14
Airport
WI14 · Baldwin, runway 18, 2,600 × ft, grass/turf

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
29
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
715 total · 150 in this make and model · 445 as pilot in command · 235 in the last 90 days · 44 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
200° at 10 knots
Lowest ceiling
None

FAA reports on this event · 1

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