# NTSB ERA10LA296: Cessna 182P, N111VP, Rainelle, WV, June 4, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 2010, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Rainelle, WV - Coordinates: 37.948612, -80.716392 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9486&lon=-80.7164&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 4 serious - Status: Completed, report December 13, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76215 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA296 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76215/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76215 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA296 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately assess the runway conditions prior to attempting a takeoff and his failure to abort the takeoff in a timely manner resulting in an on-ground collision with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after landing at the destination airport, he noticed that the grass was above the airplane's wheels and that the ground was wet and soft. Prior to departing for the return flight, the pilot taxied to the south end of the runway and completed the pre-takeoff checklist. After noting no anomalies, the pilot initiated the takeoff roll. The airplane did not gain enough speed to rotate due to the wet and soft ground, and the pilot aborted the takeoff with only 375 feet of runway remaining. The airplane went off the end of the runway, down an embankment, and collided with trees. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 2010, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N111VP, registered to Sky King Aviation, Inc., crashed into trees following an aborted takeoff, from Rainelle Airport (WV30), Rainelle, West Virginia. The certificated private pilot and three passengers sustained serious injuries and the airplane received substantial damage. The flight was operated by the certificated private pilot as a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, they landed on the turf runway at WV30 at about 1000. When the pilot exited the airplane, he noticed that the grass was above the wheel pants and the ground was wet and soft. He stated that they were at the airport for about 45 minutes. He stated that following the pre-flight, he taxied to the south end of the runway. He completed the pre-take off check list and began the takeoff roll. Approximately three-quarters of the way down the runway the airplane did not have sufficient speed to lift off and climb above the trees at the end of the runway. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff rather than lift off and stall the airplane. The airplane went off the end of the runway down an embankment and collided with trees. Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found the airplane resting at the base of some trees with both wings and the fuselage substantially damaged. The inspector stated that during takeoff roll on runway 35, the pilot attempted to become airborne, was unable to do so, and left the end of the runway into trees and down a slope 40 feet into a heavily wooded ravine. The grass runway and had previously been mowed 1 week earlier, and was soggy in areas due to previous rain earlier in the week. The pilot stated that the engine appeared to operate normally, but the airplane, bogged down in spots as it was moving down the grass runway. The runway was 3300 feet in length and the main landing gear skid marks from braking appear 375 feet prior to where the airplane entered the trees. The airplanes elevator trim was set to 5 degrees nose down and the flaps were set to 10 degrees. According to the pilot rated passenger who occupied the right front seat; he stated that during the initial ground roll the grass strip had a slight uphill slope and the airplane seemed to slow down. After the airplane approached 60 knots, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff and reduced the power. He then reapplied power to initiate the takeoff again, but about two-thirds down the runway the pilot aborted the take off and applied the brakes. The airplane did not stop and slid into the trees. At the conclusion of the engine and airframe examination, no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction was found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N111VP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N111VP-2011-09-14), registration cancelled 2011-09-14, S/N 182-64341, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 182-64341 - Airframe hours: 5550 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 2009, 190 hours before - Departed: WV30, Rainelle, WV - Destination: BKL, Cleveland, OH - Airport: WV30, Rainelle Airport, runway 35, 3,300 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 6, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 5,059 total, 3,563 in this make and model, 5,059 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LWB, 16 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 20100604037689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100604037689A), Jun 4, 2010: Cessna 182P, Rainelle, WV, Destroyed. During the takeoff roll on runway 35, the pilot attempted to become airborne, was unable to do so, and left the end of the runway into trees and down a slope… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76215. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 389 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351491&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Interview Summary. (item 2, .PDF, 349 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351492&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Interview%20Summary.-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Interview Summary. (item 3, .PDF, 350 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351493&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Interview%20Summary.-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary, (item 4, .PDF, 395 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351494&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary,-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement; Interview Summary (item 5, .PDF, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351495&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement;%20Interview%20Summary-Redacted.PDF - Digital Photo Curtesy of FAA. Runway 35 (item 6, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351499&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Digital%20Photo%20Curtesy%20of%20FAA.%20Runway%2035-Master.PDF - FAA Digital Photo end of runway 35 (item 7, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351500&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo%20end%20of%20runway%2035-Master.PDF - FAA Digital Photo of Wreckage. (item 8, .PDF, 688 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351501&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo%20of%20Wreckage.-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.