# NTSB FTW01LA134: Cessna 182K, N201EX, Victoria, TX, May 30, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 2001, 07:20 local (12:20 UTC) - Place: Victoria, TX - Coordinates: 28.729618, -97.039543 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7296&lon=-97.0395&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52383 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52383/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=52383 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA134 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in an unsecured seat which slipped aft on takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - fuselage,seat - not secured (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuselage,seat - slipped (cause) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot's seat "slid back" about the time the airplane rotated on takeoff. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the airstrip and struck the trees near the departure end. The FAA inspector reported that the seat track pin holes were within the manufacturer's limits. The pilot stated that the installation of a safety lock on the seat track could have prevented the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 2001, at 0720 central daylight time, a Cessna 182K airplane, N201EX, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during takeoff from a private grass airstrip near Victoria, Texas. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, that his seat "slid back" about the time the airplane rotated. Subsequently, the airplane veered off the airstrip and struck the trees near the departure end. The firewall sustained substantial damage. The right horizontal stabilizer’s leading edge was torn and crushed aft to its spar. Both the left wing skin and fuselage skin were wrinkled. The FAA inspector reported that the seat track pin holes were within the manufacturer's limits. The pilot stated that the installation of a safety lock on the seat track could have prevented the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N201EX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N201EX), registered now, S/N 18257642, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182K - Registry model: [Cessna 182K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182k) (registry code 2072724) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18257642 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerry W. Crabtree - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2000 - Departed: NONE, Victoria, TX - Airport: NONE, Private, runway 040, 2,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 28, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total, 900 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: VCT ## 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 20010530010899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010530010899A), May 30, 2001: Cessna 182K, Victoria, TX, Substantial damage. (-23)On may 30, 2001, at approximately 0730 hours, a Cessna 182K, N201EX, owned and operated by jerry w. crabtree out of Victoria, TX, crahsed just after take… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2001, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=52383. 407 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 407 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411781&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.