# NTSB ERA12CA024: Cessna 182A, N6324B, Warrenton, VA, October 10, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 10, 2011, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Warrenton, VA - Coordinates: 38.585277, -77.70639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5853&lon=-77.7064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82052 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82052/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82052 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA024 ## Probable cause The pilot did not ensure that the forward door latch was secured prior to initiating the descent. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Doors: passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md) - [Doors: passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was descending the airplane from an altitude of 8,000 feet after releasing skydivers. During the descent, at an altitude of about 3,000 feet, the airplane's door opened and contacted the underside of the wing. The pilot slowed the airplane and attempted to close the door but noticed that the door had warped and that the window was missing. A postflight examination of the airplane revealed that the window had separated from the door in flight and contacted the right horizontal stabilizer, resulting in substantial damage. The door had been modified with a top hinge for skydiving operations and was closed by means of two pin-type latches that were inserted into holes located on both the forward and aft sides of the door frame. The aft pin hole was torn, indicative of its latch pin having been inserted at the time of the door opening; however, the forward pin hole exhibited no damage. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was descending the airplane from an altitude of 8,000 feet after releasing skydivers. During the descent, at an altitude of about 3,000 feet, the airplane's door opened and contacted the underside of the wing. The pilot slowed the airplane and attempted to close the door, but noticed that the door had warped and that the window was missing. A postflight inspection of the airplane revealed that the window had separated from the door in flight and contacted the right horizontal stabilizer, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the door had been modified with a top hinge for skydiving operations, and was closed by means of two pin-type latches that were inserted into holes located on both fore and aft sides of the door frame. The forward pin hole exhibited no damage, while the aft pin hole was torn, indicative of the latch pin being inserted at the time of the door opening. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6324B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6324B-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 34224, built 1957 (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: 34224 - Airframe hours: 4520 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Operator: Skydive Maple Grove Inc - Registered owner: Aivcon Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 7, 2011 - Departed: 7VG0, Warrenton, VA - Destination: 7VG0, Warrenton, VA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 13, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 532 total, 150 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: IAD, 23 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 20111010029869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111010029869A), Oct 10, 2011: Cessna 182A, Warrenton, VA, Substantial damage. During a descent after dropping parachute jumpers the passenger door opened in flight. As the pilot was attempting to secure it, the window opened, detached,… ## Other investigations on N6324B (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR13LA408](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA408), Sep 14, 2013: Cessna 182A (N6324B), Casa Grande, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power during final approach for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82052. 8.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358041&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Statement to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358042&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 (Courtesy FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358046&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 (Courtesy FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 870 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358047&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 (Courtesy FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 739 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358049&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 4 (Courtesy FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 870 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358062&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 5 (Courtesy FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 706 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358063&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector (item 8, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358270&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-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.