# NTSB GAA16CA040: Cessna 182J, N3092F, Skwentna, AK, October 23, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 23, 2015, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Skwentna, AK - Coordinates: 61.98389, -151.413894 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9839&lon=-151.4139&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 8, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92286 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92286/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92286 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA040 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during landing, which resulted in a porpoise and structural damage to the airplane. ## 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 182J, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 182J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072722), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane landed hard due to the uphill slope of the grass strip. He reported that at touchdown, the airplane porpoised, veered to the left, and the left wing impacted a tree branch. The pilot aborted the landing, departed the area, and landed at an airport without further incident. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, the left wing, the floor boards underneath the rudder pedals, and the firewall. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the airplane landed hard due to the uphill slope of the grass strip. He reported that at touchdown, the airplane porpoised, veered to the left, and the left wing impacted a tree branch. The pilot aborted the landing, departed the area, and landed at an airport without further incident. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, the left wing, the floor boards underneath the rudder pedals, and the firewall. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3092F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3092F), registered now, S/N 18257192, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182J - Registry model: [Cessna 182J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182j) (registry code 2072722) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18257192 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 3952 - Engines: Continental O-470R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Chester Ray Hornung - Registered owner: Chester Ray Hornung - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 2015 - Departed: SXQ, SOLDOTNA, AK - Destination: None, Skwentna, AK - Airport: None, Whiskey Lake Airstrip, runway 23, 1,123 × 54 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 11, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 69 total, 66 in this make and model, 28 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 4 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: PASW, 6 nm away ## 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 20151023018809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151023018809A), Oct 23, 2015: Cessna 182J, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. While attempting to land at grass strip approximately 6 miles ene from Skwentna, AK, pilot made hard landing resulting in damage to aircraft. Aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 29, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92286. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 585 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20-Master.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.