- Date
- October 9, 1998, 06:00 local (10:00 UTC)
- Place
- Genesee, MI
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N92322Cessna 182N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report February 16, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19981009039549A
- Case key
- 44120
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and the subsequent failure to attain clearance with the trees during takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were the trees, dark night conditions, and fog which resulted in the lack of visual detection of the surroundings.
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.
Analysis
The airplane contacted trees to the right of the runway, and descended to impact with the terrain during the initial takeoff climb. The takeoff was being made on an unlit runway, at night, in foggy conditions.
Factual narrative
On October 9, 1998, at 0600 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182N, N92322, operated by a private pilot, collided with trees during an initial takeoff climb from runway 36 (2,200' x 100', sod) at Duford Field, Genesee, Michigan. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The planned destination was Rogers City, Michigan.
The pilot reported that after lifting off he heard a "click" and the airplane contacted the top of a tree off the right side of the runway. He stated that this resulted in the airplane turning more to the east into bigger trees. The airplane contacted these trees and came to rest near the end of and about 500 feet east of the runway.
The pilot reported to the Michigan State Police that he took off without turning on the runway lights. The police report states, "He believes he lost ground reference due to the darkness and drifted right from the runway. He clipped a tree and struck a second tree. It appears that this tree then split, rotating the aircraft upside down and towards the ground. The aircraft fell on its roof into a heavily wooded area, approximately 150 yards east of the runway. The point of final rest was 200 feet south of the end of runway 36." The officer who responded to the accident site reported "medium fog at the airport."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N92322
- Reported as
- Cessna 182N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18260150
- Airframe hours
- 4,500
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Charles Taylor
- Registered owner
- Yvonne Taylor
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 1998
- Departed
- 68C
- Destination
- PZQ · Rogers City, MI
- Airport
- 68G · Duford
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
- 65
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 4,500 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FNT, 11 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.