- Date
- July 6, 2015, 14:19 local (18:19 UTC)
- Place
- Athens, TN
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N234CFCessna 182
- Defining event
- Taxi: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 11, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Nashville FSDO (FAA)
- FAA report
- 20150706009649A
- Case key
- 91531
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the taxiway surface due to a sink hole, which resulted in the right main landing gear sinking into terrain causing substantial damage to the fuselage.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while taxiing to the active runway, about 50 yards ahead, he saw what appeared to be a black oval, 4-5 feet in diameter on the taxiway. He stated that he believed it was a wet spot or an area of new pavement, and started to steer around it. As the pilot approached the spot, he reported that he glanced off to the left and saw sink holes in the field, then he looked back towards the taxiway and suddenly the airplane sank into the taxiway. The airplane came to a stop after the right wheel fell into the sink hole and the fuselage impacted the taxiway surface. The hole had opened up to about 9-10 feet across and 7-8 feet deep. The fuselage was substantially damaged in the accident. During a postaccident interview, the airport manager stated that she was unaware of sink holes on any safety areas at the airport, including this taxiway. After the accident, the airport immediately issued a notice to airmen closing the taxiway. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while taxiing to the active runway, about 50 yards ahead, he saw what appeared to be a black oval, 4-5 feet in diameter on the taxiway. He stated that he believed it was a wet spot or an area of new pavement, and started to steer around it. As the pilot approached the spot, he reported that he glanced off to the left and saw sink holes in the field, then he looked back towards the taxiway and suddenly the airplane sank into the taxiway. The airplane came to a stop after the right wheel fell into the sink hole and the fuselage impacted the taxiway surface. The hole had opened up to about 9-10 feet across and 7-8 feet deep. The fuselage was substantially damaged in the accident. During a postaccident interview, the airport manager stated that she was unaware of sink holes on any safety areas at the airport, including this taxiway. After the accident, the airport immediately issued a notice to airmen closing the taxiway. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N234CF
- Reported as
- Cessna 182 (T)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18281076
- Built
- 2002
- Airframe hours
- 2,923.8
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Crystal Air, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Collins Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 17, 2015 · 39 hours before
- Departed
- MMI · Athens, TN
- Destination
- MMI · Athens, TN
- Airport
- MMI · Mcminn County
- Equipment
- Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 13, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 110 total · 20.2 in this make and model · 60 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,900 ft broken
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- KRZR, 16 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 844 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.