# NTSB DEN04LA018: Cessna 182A, N5127D, Albuquerque, NM, October 31, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 31, 2003, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.145278, -106.79528 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1453&lon=-106.7953&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58282 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58282/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA018 ## Probable cause the pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat and his inadequate flare resulting in a loss of engine power and a hard landing. Also causal was the inadequate supervision of the flight. Carburetor icing conditions was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - emergency procedure - simulated, dual student - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - delayed, dual student (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, dual student (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, emergency landing - flare - inadequate, dual student (cause) ## Analysis In the pattern for runway 22, the instructor pulled the throttle to idle and applied the carburetor heat to simulate an engine failure. The student established an airspeed of 75 mph and turned towards the runway. Approximately 100 feet agl, the airplane encountered "a heavy sink rate." The instructor stated that the stall horn did not sound and the bank angle was shallow. The student added power "rapidly"; however, the engine did not respond. The airplane struck the runway on the main gear. It bounced and struck the runway again, separating the nose gear, sending the airplane skidding on its nose. A postimpact fire ensued, consuming the fuselage.Temperature was 62 degrees Fahrenheit (F) and dew point was 32 degrees F. According to the carburetor icing probability chart, the temperature and dew point were right on the edge of serious icing conditions at glide power. ## Factual narrative On October 31, 2003, at approximately 1600 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182A, N5127D, was destroyed following a hard landing and postimpact fire at Double Eagle II Airport (AEG), Albuquerque, New Mexico. The commercial certificated instructor and student pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The local instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated approximately 1500. According the report submitted by the flight instructor, they had been practicing soft and short field landings on runway 17. There was no traffic at the airport so they switched to runway 22 for a better crosswind component. At midfield on the right downwind, at an altitude of 6,800 feet msl, the instructor pulled the throttle to idle and applied carburetor heat to simulate an engine failure. The student established an airspeed of 75 mph and turned towards the runway. Approximately 100 feet agl, the airplane encountered "a heavy sink rate." The instructor stated that the stall horn did not sound and the bank angle was shallow. The student added power "rapidly"; however, the engine did not respond. The airplane struck the runway on the main gear. It bounced and struck the runway again, separating the nose gear. The airplane continued forward with its nose skidding on the runway. A postimpact fire ensued, consuming the fuselage. According to the METAR (aviation routine weather report) taken at 1610, winds, 170 degrees at 15 knots, gusting 22 knots; visibility, 8 statute miles; sky condition, scattered 9,000 feet agl; temperature, 62 degrees Fahrenheit (F); dew point, 32 degrees F; altimeter setting, 30.02 inches. According to the carburetor icing probability chart, the temperature and dew point were right on the edge of serious icing conditions at glide power. An examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded it from developing power. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5127D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5127D-2006-04-10), registration cancelled 2006-04-10, S/N 51227, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182A - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 51227 - Airframe hours: 2596 - Engines: Continental O-470-L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 17, 2003, 5 hours before - Departed: AEG, Albuquerque, NM - Destination: NM - Airport: AEG, Double Eagle II, runway 22, 7,400 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 55; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 5, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 3,238 total, 484 in this make and model, 3,024 as pilot in command, 121 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 49; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 136 total, 79 in this make and model, 49 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 15 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: AEG, 1 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 20031031035489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031031035489A), Oct 31, 2003: Cessna 182A, Albuquerque, NM, Destroyed. (-23) On October 31, 2003 at 1600 MST, a Cessna 182, N5127D, registered to eric m. shelton and donald l. best, sustained a hard landing on a training flight.… 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.