# NTSB ERA12CA322: Cessna 182N, N9217G, Newport, VT, May 6, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 6, 2012, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Newport, VT
- Coordinates: 44.883056, -72.224441 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8831&lon=-72.2244&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 83572
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA322
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83572/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83572
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA322

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and hard landing.

## 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 182N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072730), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072730), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 182N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2072730), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072730), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, the airplane was about 10 feet above the ground during the approach to landing when it "dropped hard" onto the runway. An eyewitness stated that the wings shook from side to side, the airplane fell to the ground, and the sound of runway impact could be heard. According to marks on the runway, the airplane impacted nose first and then bounced and impacted the runway again. Calculations based on the propeller strike marks associated with the first impact indicated a ground speed of about 38 knots. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to a written statement by the pilot, about 10 feet above the ground, the airplane "dropped hard" onto the runway. An eyewitness stated that the wings shook from side to side, the airplane fell about 10 feet, and the sound of runway impact could be heard. According to marks on the runway, the airplane impacted nose first, bounced, and impacted the runway again. The propeller strike marks associated with the first impact indicated a ground speed of about 38 knots. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact malfunctions or anomalies prior to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9217G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9217G), registered now, S/N 18260757, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182N
- Registry model: [Cessna 182N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182n) (registry code 2072730) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18260757
- Airframe hours: 4376
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Leading Edge Aviation Northeast
- Registered owner: Sherlock Equipment And Leasing LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 2012
- Departed: LEB, Lebanon, NH
- Destination: EFK, Newport, VT
- Airport: EFK, Newport State Airport, runway 36, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 12, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 591 total, 14 in this make and model, 591 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: EFK

## 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 20120506006919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120506006919A), May 6, 2012: Cessna 182N, Newport, VT, Substantial damage. Possible unstable approach to runway 36, high on approach (final) with full flaps. Decrease in airspeed, pilot applied power too late to recover from excessive…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83572. 8.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368268&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Written Statement to Vermont Department of Transportation (item 2, .PDF, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367536&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Written%20Statement%20to%20Vermont%20Department%20of%20Transportation-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367537&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Newport Weather (item 4, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367535&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Newport%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Email from Vermont Department of Transportation (item 5, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368531&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20Vermont%20Department%20of%20Transportation-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1: Firewall Damage (Courtesy of the Vermont Dept. of Transportation) (item 6, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Firewall%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20Vermont%20Dept.%20of%20Transportation)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Propeller Strike Marks (Courtesy of the Vermont Department of Transportation) (item 7, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368269&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Propeller%20Strike%20Marks%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20Vermont%20Department%20of%20Transportation)-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.

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