# NTSB ERA17CA089: Cessna 182, N707RB, Mobile, AL, January 14, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 14, 2017, 10:35 local (15:35 UTC) - Place: Mobile, AL - Coordinates: 30.626667, -88.068054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6267&lon=-88.0681&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 22, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94611 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17CA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94611/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94611 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA089 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the initial climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/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 182J, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072722), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the single-engine airplane was equipped with a short takeoff and landing system, and before takeoff, he "lowered the full length flaperons to 30°." The airplane climbed out at 70 mph, and as it reached an altitude of 75 ft above ground level, it encountered a crosswind gust from the right. The right wing pitched up, and the pilot attempted to recover the airplane by applying right aileron, followed by right rudder, and then lowering the nose; however, he could not stop the roll to the left. The airplane collided with the ground adjacent to the runway and sustained substantial damage to its airframe. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The reported wind condition at the departure airport at the time of the accident was variable at 3 knots. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the single-engine airplane was equipped with a short takeoff and landing system and before takeoff, he "lowered the full length flaperons to 30°." The airplane climbed out at 70 mph, and as it reached an altitude of 75 ft above ground level, it encountered a crosswind gust from the right. The right wing pitched up and the pilot attempted to recover the airplane by applying right aileron, followed by right rudder, and then lowering the nose; however, he could not stop the roll to the left. The airplane collided with the ground adjacent to the runway, and sustained substantial damage to its airframe. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The reported wind condition at the departure airport at the time of the accident, were winds variable at 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N707RB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N707RB-2019-01-10), registration cancelled 2019-01-10, S/N 18257446, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (J) - Registry model: [Cessna 182J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182j) (registry code 2072722) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18257446 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 6057.14 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 2017, 3 hours before - Departed: BFM, Mobile, AL - Destination: JYL, Sylvania, GA - Airport: BFM, Mobile Downtown, runway 32, 9,618 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 8, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,600 total, 300 in this make and model, 1,550 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BFM ## 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 20170114000369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170114000369A), Jan 14, 2017: Cessna 182J, Mobile, AL, Substantial damage. On January 14, 2017, the pilot of N707RB was taking off from Mobile Downtown Airport (bfm) in Mobile, Alabama. After rotation the aircraft climbed to an… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94611. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 598 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454726&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Excerpt from POH (item 2, .PDF, 506 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454727&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20POH-Master.PDF - Photo Array (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 619 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454728&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.