# NTSB ERA20LA323: Cessna 182, N234ME, Hollywood, FL, September 18, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 18, 2020, 13:33 local (17:33 UTC)
- Place: Hollywood, FL
- Coordinates: 25.997499, -80.241668
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9975&lon=-80.2417&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 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): 101999
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA323
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101999/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101999
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA323

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind takeoff, which resulted in a collision with airport lights and a sign.

## 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 182S, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072701), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182S, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072701), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072701), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2072701), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=2072701), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182S, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072701), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was departing on a cross country flight. Immediately after liftoff the nose of the airplane veered left. The pilot attempted to correct for the crosswind but was unsuccessful and the airplane struck runway lights and a sign resulting in substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N234ME](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N234ME), registered now, S/N 18280751, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 182 (S)
- Registry model: [Cessna 182S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182s) (registry code 2072701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18280751
- Year built: 2000
- Airframe hours: 1617.9
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540 SER 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 2020, 50.2 hours before
- Departed: HWO, Hollywood, FL
- Destination: AND, Anderson, SC
- Airport: HWO, North Perry, runway 28L, 3,255 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,320 total, 329 in this make and model, 1,320 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: KHWO

## 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 20200918012339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200918012339A), Sep 18, 2020: Cessna 182S, Hollywood, FL, Substantial damage. Hollywood, FL (hwo): N234ME, a C182, attempted to depart runway 28L, briefly became airborne and then settled back down to the left of the runway over the…

## Other investigations on N234ME (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI07CA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA153), May 10, 2007: Cessna 182S (N234ME), Harvard, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing, which caused the nose gear to collapse and subsequent damage to the propellor and underside of the airplane.

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101999. 3.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11651364&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 73 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11646527&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11641623&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 544 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11640920&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20release_Redacted-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.

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