# NTSB ERA19LA031: Cessna 182, N20BK, Elba, AL, October 28, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 28, 2018, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Elba, AL - Coordinates: 31.410833, -86.089996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4108&lon=-86.0900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98566 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98566/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98566 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA031 ## Probable cause A leak in the pitot-static system for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information, which resulted in an airspeed indication error, an aborted takeoff, and a subsequent runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the takeoff roll on an instructional flight, the instructor noticed that the airspeed was not increasing above 50 knots. He aborted the takeoff, during which the airplane overran the runway end and collided with a berm, resulting in substantial damage. The airplane was recovered for examination and a pitot-static system test revealed significant errors in airspeed indication due to a leak in the system. The airplane’s maintenance logs were not provided for review, and the maintenance history of the pitot-static system could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On October 28, 2018, about 1500 central daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N20BK, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Elba, Alabama. The flight instructor, the commercial pilot receiving instruction, and a passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the flight instructor, all three occupants boarded the airplane for departure after a preflight inspection. An engine run-up revealed no anomalies. When the airplane neared the midpoint of the 3,050-ft-long runway, he noticed that the airspeed was 50 knots and was not increasing. He immediately reduced engine power to idle, aborted the takeoff, and applied the brakes. The airplane overran the runway and collided with a berm about 1,000 ft past the runway end. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the nose landing gear broke away from the strut and that the engine firewall was buckled. The airplane’s maintenance logs were not made available for review. A postaccident test of the pitot static system revealed a leak within the system; the airspeed indicator read 40 knots when tested at 70 knots, and 60 knots when tested at 100 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20BK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20BK-2021-01-09), registration cancelled 2021-01-09, S/N 18266347, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 (Q) - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18266347 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 7071 - Engines: Continental O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 2018, 10 hours before - Departed: 14J, Elba, AL - Destination: MKL, Jackson, TN - Airport: 14J, Carl Folsom, runway 01, 3,050 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 19, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,400 total, 6 in this make and model, 4,850 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 41; injuries: none; military, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 23, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,389 total, 2,356 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 9 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KLOR, 18 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 20181028024149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181028024149A), Oct 28, 2018: Cessna 182Q, Elba, AL, Substantial damage. Takeoff aborted when CFI and student pilot both noted airspeed indicator was not indicating an airspeed above 50 knots by midfield (1500 feet down runway).… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98566. 25.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 22.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9417399&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pax%206120%20N20BK_Redacted-Rel.pdf - CFI 6120 excerpt (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 609 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9418345&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CFI%206120%20excerpt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Owner 6120 excerpts (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 527 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9418243&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=20BK%20owner%206120-Rel.pdf - Commercial pilot statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9416943&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Right%20seat%20pax%20statment%20Gerstner,%20Jason%20N20BK%20Runway%20Runoff_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record FAA email excerpts (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9417528&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20email%20excerpts%20LA031-Rel.pdf - Pitot system test results (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9418089&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pitot%20static%20system%20test%20N20BK_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9417408&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA031-Rel.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.