# NTSB FTW01LA206: Cessna 182, N8641T, Gladewater, TX, June 29, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 2001, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Gladewater, TX - Coordinates: 32.539951, -94.94001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5400&lon=-94.9400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53444 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53444/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA206 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadvertent visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions while maneuvering, which resulted in her spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of control of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command ## Analysis The non-instrument rated private pilot was practicing maneuvers with broken cloud conditions. She allowed the airplane to ascend into a "hazy area and noticed clouds were beginning to close around me." She added that she flew the airplane toward a "hole to descend through the clouds. [The] haze increased and [she] continued towards the opening but wound up in a cloud." She stated that she immediately experienced "vertigo and got into [an] unusual attitude." During the unusual attitude recovery, the front windshield and right rear windshield separated from the airplane. The pilot then made an uneventful landing. Examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the wings, wing struts, and horizontal stabilizer. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 2001, at 1600 central daylight time, a Cessna 182 airplane, N8641T, sustained substantial damage upon recovery from an unusual attitude near Gladewater, Texas. The non-instrument rated private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The aircraft was registered to TLM Properties LLC, of Gladewater, Texas, and was operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed at 1520. According to the pilot's written statement, she was practicing maneuvers with broken cloud conditions. She allowed the airplane to ascend into a "hazy area and noticed clouds were beginning to close around me." She added that she flew the airplane toward a "hole to descend through the clouds. [The] haze increased and [she] continued towards the opening but wound up in a cloud." She stated that she immediately experienced "vertigo and got into [an] unusual attitude." During the unusual attitude recovery, the front windshield and right rear windshield separated from the airplane. The pilot then made an uneventful landing. According to the insurance adjuster's mechanic, the wings, wing struts, and horizontal stabilizer sustained structural damage. The NTSB was not notified of this accident until August 29, 2001. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8641T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8641T-2013-08-21), registration cancelled 2013-08-21, S/N 52541, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 - Registry model: [Cessna 182C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182c) (registry code 2072708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52541 - Airframe hours: 6275.5 - Engines: Continental IO-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mary J. Todd - Registered owner: TLM Properties LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 27, 2001, 30 hours before - Departed: 07F, GLADEWATER, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 1, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 380 total, 300 in this make and model, 320 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F ## 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 20010629033559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010629033559A), Jun 29, 2001: Cessna 182C, Gladewater, TX, No damage. (-23) Entered haze/cloud at 8000 AGL, 140 mph while practicing chandelle. Rolled inverted. Front and l. side windshield blew out. Pilot recovered an landed… 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.