DEN05CA067

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 182M · Cortez, CO · April 8, 2005

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 8, 2005, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
Place
Cortez, CO
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N92112Cessna 182M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 7, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA Field Standards District Office
FAA report
20050408004149A
Case key
61285

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 maintain aircraft control during the landing flare. Contributing factors include the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision making, the crosswind and the gusty surface winds.

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.

In flight encounter with weatherLanding - flare/touchdown
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - flare/touchdown
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
In-flight planning/decision - inadequatePilot in commandFactor
Terrain condition - runway

Analysis

The pilot encountered windshear during the landing flare to runway 21. The pilot reported that he added power as he descended; however, the airplane continued to descend "rapidly." The airplane impacted the runway, bounced several times, and departed the runway to the right. During the impact, the nose landing gear assembly collapsed and the propeller struck the runway, causing substantial damage. An examination of the airplanes systems revealed no anomalies. According to the METAR (routine aviation weather report) the winds at the time of the accident were reported as 170 degrees at 19 knots with gusts to 25 knots. The crosswind component calculated for the time of the accident ranged from 12 to 16 knots.

Factual narrative

On April 8, 2005, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182M, N92112, piloted by a private pilot was substantially damaged when it impacted the runway during the landing flare at Cortez Municipal Airport (CEZ), Cortez, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The business flight was being operated on a visual flight rules flight plan, under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and his three passengers reported no injuries. The cross-country flight departed Scottsdale, Arizona, approximately 0810.

According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he encountered windshear during the landing flare to runway 21. The pilot reported that he added power as he descended; however, the airplane continued to descend "rapidly." The airplane impacted the runway, bounced several times, and departed the runway to the right. During the impact, the nose landing gear assembly collapsed and the propeller struck the runway. Further examination revealed that the firewall was wrinkled. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies.

According to the CEZ METAR (routine aviation weather report) the winds at the time of the accident were reported as 170 degrees at 19 knots with gusts to 25 knots. The crosswind component calculated for the time of the accident ranged from 12 to 16 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N92112
Reported as
Cessna 182M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18260049
Airframe hours
4,973
Engine
Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Registered owner
Paloma Medical Consultants Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 1, 2004 · 30 hours before
Departed
SDL · Scottsdale, AZ
Destination
CEZ · Cortez, CO
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
CEZ · Cortez-Montezuma County, runway 21, 7,205 × 100 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
60
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
July 16, 2004
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,124 total · 767 in this make and model · 984 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
170° at 19 knots, gusting 25
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
61 °F, dew point 23 °F
Altimeter
29.70 inHg
Observed at
CEZ, 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.