# NTSB ERA09CA449: Cessna 182, N9432X, Milford, PA, August 7, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 7, 2009, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Milford, PA - Coordinates: 41.350555, -74.926391 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3506&lon=-74.9264&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74475 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA449 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74475/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74475 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA449 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182R, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072731), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182R, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072731), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 182R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072731), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072731), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182R, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072731), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was taking off from a 2,500-foot long by 50-foot wide turf runway, oriented on a northerly heading, when the airplane "became airborne early due to a dip in the runway." According to the pilot, he experienced a "slight left crosswind" and "engine torque," and the airplane began drifting to the left. The left wingtip impacted a tree, and the airplane came to rest in trees on the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Neither the pilot nor a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, reported any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. Details regarding the pilot's experience operating on turf runways, and particularly the accident airport, could not be obtained despite numerous attempts. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report Form, the pilot reported the accident airport's runway width as 50 feet. This was confirmed by analysis of aerial photographs of the airport, which also depicted the distance between trees on either side of the runway as varying between 77 feet and 56 feet. However, records maintained by the FAA listed the runway as 200 feet wide. The nearest weather reporting station, located approximately 16 nautical miles southeast of the accident location, reported winds from 280 degrees at 7 knots around the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot was departing a 2,500-foot long by 50-foot wide turf runway, oriented on a northerly heading, when the airplane "became airborne early due to a dip in the runway." According to the pilot, he experienced a "slight left crosswind" and "engine torque," and the airplane began drifting to the left. The left wingtip impacted a tree, and the airplane came to rest in trees on the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. Neither the pilot nor a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, reported any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. Details regarding the pilot's experience operating on turf runways, and particularly the accident airport, could not be obtained despite numerous attempts. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report Form, the pilot reported the accident airport's runway width as 50 feet. This was confirmed by analysis of aerial photographs of the airport, which also depicted the distance between trees on either side of the runway as varying between 77 feet and 56 feet. However, records maintained by the FAA listed the runway as 200 feet wide. The nearest weather reporting station, located approximately 16 nautical miles southeast of the accident location, reported winds from 280 degrees at 7 knots around the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9432X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9432X-2013-06-05), registration cancelled 2013-06-05, S/N 18268524, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (R) - 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: 18268524 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Tab Air Inc. - Registered owner: Tab Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 6PA0, Milford, PA - Destination: OLE, Olean, NY - Airport: 6PA0, Myer Airport, runway 36, 2,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 3, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: FWN, 17 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 20090807012419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090807012419A), Aug 7, 2009: Cessna 182R, Newburgh, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) Operated under 14 CFR part 91, pilot was departing airport on grass runway. Pilot began to lose control of aircraft drifted left and the left wing tip… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74475. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 704 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318534&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318535&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Airport Information (item 3, .PDF, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319617&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Airport%20Information-Master.PDF - Aerial Photograph of Airport (item 4, .PDF, 271 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319618&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aerial%20Photograph%20of%20Airport-Master.PDF - FAA and AirNav Airport Information (item 5, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319619&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20and%20AirNav%20Airport%20Information-Master.PDF 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.