# NTSB ERA22LA409: Cessna 182N, N8942G, Blairstown, NJ, September 4, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 4, 2022, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Blairstown, NJ - Coordinates: 40.970888, -74.996651 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9709&lon=-74.9967&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - 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): 105909 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA409 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105909/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105909 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA409 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to cross the taxiway at an unsuitable location. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Airport facilities/design: taxiway condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017045): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017045/cases.md?model=2072730), [All aircraft, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017045/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072730), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182N, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072730), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the nose landing gear-equipped airplane was conducting glider tow operations, and after landing from the second tow, he was taxing to the opposite end of the airport in the grass next to the runway. The pilot further described that it was common practice to tow gliders for takeoff from the paved runway and to land in the opposite direction on the grass next to the runway. The pilot decided to cross an intersecting paved taxiway at a different place than he normally would, so he could be seen by the other tow aircraft. While attempting to cross the taxiway the nose landing gear contacted the taxiway edge, collapsed, and resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8942G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8942G), registered now, S/N 18260482, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182N - Registry model: [Cessna 182N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182n) (registry code 2072730) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18260482 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 7152.9 - Engines: CONTINENTAL MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Glider tow, Part 91 - Operator: Aero Club Albatross - Registered owner: Aero Club Albatross - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 3, 2022 - Airport: 1N7, Blairstown - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 756 total, 80 in this make and model, 678 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: 12N, 12 nm away - METAR: K12N 040554Z AUTO 00000KT 22/18 A3017 RMK AO1 SLP208 T02170178 10250 20211 58005 ## 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 20220904015549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220904015549A), Sep 4, 2022: Cessna 182N, Blairstown, NJ, Substantial damage. Aircraft was conducting glider tow operations. Pilot landed runway 7 uneventfully. Pilot taxied off south side of runway onto turf, taxing parallel to runway… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105909. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14494331&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA409%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14463376&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� FAA nose landing gear examination (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 858 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14494809&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Nose%20Gear%20Examination%208492G%20V3-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.