# NTSB ERA12CA553: Cessna 182T, N635CP, Marion, SC, September 7, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 7, 2012, 08:10 local (12:10 UTC)
- Place: Marion, SC
- Coordinates: 34.18111, -79.334724 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1811&lon=-79.3347&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 February 27, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO, Civil Air Patrol
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84981
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA553
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84981/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84981
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA553

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072703), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 182T, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072703), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072703), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

As the airplane arrived in the area of the destination airport, where the pilots would commence a Civil Air Patrol, U.S Air Force-assigned mission, the pilot flying (a flight instructor in the left seat) asked the pilot-not-flying (a private pilot in the right seat) if he wanted to practice takeoffs and landings. The flight instructor turned over the controls to the private pilot, and he performed a normal landing. The private pilot then took off to practice a short-field landing. Both pilots reported the airplane touched down "firm" on the main landing gear, and as the airplane decelerated, it felt as if the airplane had a flat tire. Shortly after, the propeller began to strike the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed damage to the nose landing gear attachment assembly and substantial damage to the firewall. During postaccident interviews, neither pilot could recall the airspeed during the approach or the flap configuration. The flight instructor described the landing flare as a "momentary or short flare."

## Factual narrative

The purpose of the flight was to fly the airplane to the destination airport, where the pilots would commence a Civil Air Patrol, U.S Air Force assigned mission. As the pilots arrived in the area of the destination airport the pilot flying (a certified flight instructor in the left seat) asked the pilot-not-flying (a private pilot in the right seat) if he wanted to practice takeoffs-and-landings. The flight instructor turned over the controls to the private pilot, and he performed a normal landing. The private pilot then set up for a short-field landing. Both pilots reported the airplane touched down "firm" on the main landing gear and as the airplane decelerated it felt as if the airplane had a flat tire. Shortly after, the propeller began to strike the runway. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed damage to the nose landing gear attachment assembly and substantial damage to the firewall. During postaccident interviews, neither pilot could recall the airspeed during the approach, or the flap configuration. The flight instructor described the landing flare as a "momentary or short flare."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N635CP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N635CP), registered now, S/N 18281530, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182T
- Registry model: [Cessna 182T](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182t) (registry code 2072703) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18281530
- Airframe hours: 1565
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2012
- Departed: CAE, Columbia, SC
- Destination: MAO, Marion, SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MAO, Marion County Airport, runway 22, 4,503 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 68; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 31, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 1,710 total, 304 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 27, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 953 total, 200 in this make and model, 920 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: MAO

## 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 20120907019879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120907019879A), Sep 7, 2012: Cessna 182T, Mullins, SC, Substantial damage. On September 7, 2012, at 0810 hours, N635CP, a Cessna 182T operating part 91 VFR, was performing short field landings on runway 22 at Marion County Airport,…

## Docket (13 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 18, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84981. 27.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381118&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Flight Instructor Statement (item 2, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381138&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Private Pilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381139&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Private%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Accident Diagram (item 4, .PDF, 467 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381140&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Diagram-Master.PDF
- Recorded Weather (item 5, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381141&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Recorded%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Flight Instructor Interview (item 6, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381237&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Interview-Master.PDF
- Private Pilot Interview (item 7, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381240&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Private%20Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF
- Updated Flight Instructor Flight Times and Weight and Balance (item 8, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381247&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Updated%20Flight%20Instructor%20Flight%20Times%20and%20Weight%20and%20Balance-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1: Aircraft in hangar after accident (note: nose gear collapse). Photo courtesy of CAP. (item 9, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381255&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Aircraft%20in%20hangar%20after%20accident%20(note%3A%20nose%20gear%20collapse).%20Photo%20courtesy%20of%20CAP.-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Firewall damage (note: crease in firewall). Photo courtesy of CAP. (item 10, .PDF, 7.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381256&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Firewall%20damage%20(note%3A%20crease%20in%20firewall).%20Photo%20courtesy%20of%20CAP.-Master.PDF
- Photo 3: Firewall damage (note: tape depicts wrinkle in firewall). Photo courtesy of CAP. (item 11, .PDF, 6.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381257&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Firewall%20damage%20(note%3A%20tape%20depicts%20wrinkle%20in%20firewall).%20Photo%20courtesy%20of%20CAP.-Master.PDF
- Photo 4: Firewall and rivet damage (item 12, .PDF, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381258&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%3A%20Firewall%20and%20rivet%20damage-Master.PDF
- Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 13, .PDF, 365 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40381259&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.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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