# NTSB DEN03TA102: Cessna 182R, N6319H, Hobbs, NM, June 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: June 12, 2003, 15:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Hobbs, NM - Coordinates: 32.779445, -103.214164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7794&lon=-103.2142&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57208 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03TA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57208/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03TA102 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - weather condition - high density altitude - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - building(nonresidential) ## Analysis The Civil Air Patrol private pilot had recently (he had logged 24 tows) been signed off to tow gliders. He said that his initial climb incline was 20 degrees, and his airspeed was approximately 50 knots [the airplane's Pilot's Operating Handbook states that the flaps up, power off stall speed is 54 knots]. Several witnesses said that the airplane departed at a high angle of attack, and then mush/stalled into a T-hangar. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that both wings were bent and wrinkled, and both the fuselage and empennage were bent and wrinkled. The density altitude was calculated to be 7,070 feet. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 2003, at approximately 1520 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182R, N6319H, was substantially damaged when it impacted a T-hangar during takeoff from Hobbs Industrial Air Park, Hobbs, New Mexico. The non-instrument rated private pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, sustained minor injuries. The Civil Air Patrol, Inc., was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local glider towing flight that was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot said he "thought he was performing a normal takeoff"; he was using a 20-degree incline to tow the glider. "All of a sudden he seemed to be in a 300 to 400 feet updraft or a gust of wind." He said he felt a "violent jerk on the rear of the aircraft," and his 50 knots indicated airspeed deteriorated to 40 knots [the airplane's Pilot's Operating Handbook states that the flaps up, power off stall speed is 54 knots]. The pilot said a gust of wind blew him about 150 feet to the right of his takeoff ground path. Several witnesses said that the glider launching operation appeared "normal." Shortly after takeoff, the tow airplane appeared to change its pitch to a high angle of attack, and then mush/stalled into a T-hangar. One witness said that he could see the whole top of the airplane's wing. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that both wings were bent and wrinkled, and both the fuselage and empennage were bent and wrinkled. One of the Civil Air Patrol instructors had signed the pilot off for glider towing several days prior to the accident. During the 4 days prior to the accident, the pilot had successfully completed 24 tows. The density altitude was calculated to be 7,070 feet. The National Transportation Safety Board's form 6120.1/2 was never returned from the New Mexico chapter of the Civil Air Patrol. Several follow up calls were made with no success. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6319H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6319H-2006-01-31), registration cancelled 2006-01-31, S/N 18267882, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182R - Registry model: [Cessna 182R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182r) (registry code 2072731) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18267882 - Airframe hours: 5995.9 - Engines: Continental O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 2003, 22.9 hours before - Departed: NM83, Hobbs, NM - Airport: NM83, Hobbs Industrial Airpark, runway 30, 8,810 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 9, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 353 total, 147 in this make and model, 34 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: HOB, 5 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 20030612010969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030612010969A), Jun 12, 2003: Cessna 182R, Hobbs, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On 06-12-2003 at approximately 15:20 MDT local time, Cessna 182R N6319H aircraft, piloted by lee carol knoell, holder of private pilot certificate number… 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.