- Date
- July 3, 2016, 13:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place
- Llano, CA
- Injuries
- 4 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1642TCessna 182
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 31, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160703011789A
- Case key
- 93518
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 pilot's failure to attain an adequate airspeed and his intentional aerodynamic stall, which resulted in an impact with terrain and a post-impact fire.
Findings · 4
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 during takeoff from a private dirt airstrip with an air density altitude near 6,100 feet, the airplane became airborne in ground effect, but was not able to "build airspeed sufficient to pitch for Vy (best rate of climb)". The pilot further reported that the wind pushed the airplane over an orchard and he intentionally put the airplane into an aerodynamic stall prior to impacting terrain. A post-impact fire ensued and the airplane was destroyed. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll he heard a "bang" which he initially assumed to be a rock hitting the fuselage, but later believed to be an engine failure. An examination of the postaccident photographs of the two-bladed propeller showed, approximately 1/3 of the outer portion of one propeller blade was snapped off across the cord perpendicular to the leading edge and the second propeller blade showed "S" bending, torsional twisting, and tip curl, which are all indications consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during takeoff from a private dirt airstrip with an air density altitude near 6,100 feet, the airplane became airborne in ground effect, but was not able to "build airspeed sufficient to pitch for Vy (best rate of climb)". The pilot further reported that the wind pushed the airplane over an orchard and he intentionally put the airplane into an aerodynamic stall prior to impacting terrain. A post-impact fire ensued and the airplane was destroyed. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll he heard a "bang" which he initially assumed to be a rock hitting the fuselage, but later believed to be an engine failure. An examination of the postaccident photographs of the two-bladed propeller showed, approximately 1/3 of the outer portion of one propeller blade was snapped off across the cord perpendicular to the leading edge and the second propeller blade showed "S" bending, torsional twisting, and tip curl, which are all indications consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1642T
- Reported as
- Cessna 182 (M)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18259338
- Built
- 1968
- Airframe hours
- 6,293.2
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-470R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 14, 2015
- Departed
- CL13 · Llano, CA
- Destination
- CRQ · Carlsbad, CA
- Airport
- CL13 · Brian Ranch, runway 26, 2,100 × 50 ft, gravel
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- 36
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 24, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 225 total · 80 in this make and model · 175 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1.5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 97 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- KGXA, 5 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.6 MB 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.