# NTSB ERA20CA301: Cessna 182, N21488, Savannah, GA, August 17, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 17, 2020, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Savannah, GA - Coordinates: 32.127498, -81.202224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1275&lon=-81.2022&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101888 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA301 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101888/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101888 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA301 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate flare, resulting in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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 182P, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying the airplane on a multi-leg cross-country flight, and during a preflight inspection prior to one of the legs the pilot observed wrinkled skin on the right-side fuselage near the engine firewall. A local mechanic believed it to be minor damage and the pilot continued to his destination. Upon arrival, another mechanic noted that the damage appeared to be more serious and a ferry permit was requested. The damage was determined to be substantial and the ferry permit was denied by local Federal Aviation Administration personnel. Although the pilot stated that the damage appeared to be from a landing with the nose gear touching down first, he did not recall any unusual or hard landings during the previous cross-country flight legs. He also stated that he was the only pilot to recently fly the airplane and the damage most likely occurred during his control. The damage likely occurred during a hard landing; however, the time and location of the accident could not be determined based on the available information. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies during the cross-country flights. ## Factual narrative The pilot was flying the airplane on a multi-leg cross-country flight, and during a preflight inspection prior to one of the legs the pilot observed wrinkled skin on the right-side fuselage near the engine firewall. A local mechanic believed it to be minor damage and the pilot continued to his destination. Upon arrival, another mechanic noted that the damage appeared to be more serious and a ferry permit was requested. The damage was determined to be substantial and the ferry permit was denied by local Federal Aviation Administration personnel. Although the pilot stated that the damage appeared to be from a landing with the nose gear touching down first, he did not recall any unusual or hard landings during the previous cross-country flight legs. He also stated that he was the only pilot to recently fly the airplane and the damage most likely occurred during his control.The damage likely occurred during a hard landing; however, the time and location of the accident could not be determined based on the available information. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies during the cross-country flights. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21488](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21488), registered now, S/N 18261664, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 (P) - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18261664 - Year built: 1973 - Engines: Continental IO-550-D-AP 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: F3EA Inc. - Registered owner: Clik Services Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 9, 2020, 182 hours before - Departed: MLU, Monroe, LA - Destination: SAV, Savannah, GA - Airport: SAV, Savannah Hilton Head Intl, runway 01, 7,002 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,124 total, 36 in this make and model, 3,525 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Not reported - Wind: 70° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KSAV ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101888. 7.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11353367&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1a%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20N21488_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11353466&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20NTSB%20Memorandum%20for%20Record%20508%20Wickenhagen_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record - FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11353768&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20NTSB%20Memorandum%20for%20Record%20508%20Bain-Rel.pdf - FAA form 8620-1 (aircraft condition notice) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 850 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11354188&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20Aircraft%20Condition%20Notice_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 270 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11354198&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6%20Photo%20Array-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.