# NTSB GAA16CA376: Cessna 182, N9928B, Stevensville, MT, July 15, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 15, 2016, 06:45 local (12:45 UTC)
- Place: Stevensville, MT
- Coordinates: 46.461666, -114.07833 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4617&lon=-114.0783&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93605
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA376
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93605/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93605
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA376

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from ground equipment during takeoff, which resulted in an impact with irrigation pipes, a loss of directional control, an impact with a fence, and a nose over.

## 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 182A, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: ground equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll from a grass airstrip, the airplane straddled an irrigation pipe on the east side to avoid a dip in the middle of the airstrip, impacted a sprinkler, and he lost directional control. The pilot further reported that the airplane veered left and impacted a fence, which resulted in a nose over and substantial damage to the left wing, empennage, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll from a grass airstrip, the airplane straddled an irrigation pipe on the east side to avoid a dip in the middle of the airstrip, impacted a sprinkler, and he lost directional control. The pilot further reported that the airplane veered left and impacted a fence, which resulted in a nose over and substantial damage to the left wing, empennage, and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9928B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9928B), registered now, S/N 34328 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (A)
- Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34328
- Year built: 1957
- Airframe hours: 1930.5
- Engines: Continental 0-470-K 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 2016
- Departed: Stevensville, MT
- Destination: Stevensville, MT
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2014; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KMSO, 28 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 20160715011909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160715011909A), Jul 15, 2016: Cessna 182A, Stevensville, MT, Substantial damage. Laterally sloping runway. Pilot started takeoff roll on high side. Aircraft did not drift downslope, entered taller wet grass on the left pulling aircraft off…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 28, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93605. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 893 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442713&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442714&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 494 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442715&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.

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