# NTSB GAA18CA051: Cessna 182H, N8515S, Tucson, AZ, November 12, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 12, 2017, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.114444, -110.939163 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1144&lon=-110.9392&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 14, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96348 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96348/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96348 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA051 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to use taxiways shown on the airport diagrams and his subsequent failure to avoid a ditch. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072718), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of available resources](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035/cases.md?model=2072718), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063035/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 182H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2072718), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072718), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after he refueled his airplane, he was cleared by the tower controller to the runway. He added that, as he taxied west toward taxiway Delta, the asphalt was very rough, and he did not see the taxiway to his left nor the unmarked drainage ditch immediately in front of him. The airplane entered the ditch travelling about 5 knots. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Review of the accident airport diagram revealed that the area around the ditch was not a depicted taxiway. Further review of satellite imagery revealed that there were two access points to taxiway Delta southwest of the refueling point. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after he refueled his airplane, he was cleared by the tower controller to runway 21. He added that as he taxied west toward taxiway delta, the asphalt was very rough, and he did not see the taxiway to his left, nor the unmarked drainage ditch immediately in front of him. The airplane entered the ditch travelling about 5 knots. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of the accident airport diagram revealed that the area around the ditch was not a depicted taxi way. A further review of satellite imagery revealed that there were two access points to taxiway delta southwest of the refueling point. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8515S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8515S), registered now, S/N 18256615, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182H (H) - Registry model: [Cessna 182H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182h) (registry code 2072718) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18256615 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 4000 - Engines: Continental O470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 2017 - Departed: San Quintin - Destination: TUS, Tucson, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TUS, Tucson Intl - Equipment: Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 28, 2016; flight hours: 2,290 total, 100 in this make and model, 2,031 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KTUS, 1 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 20171112018709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171112018709A), Nov 12, 2017: Cessna 182H, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. Pilot was enroute to runway 21 via taxiway delta from the fueling area. Pilot did not maintain situational awareness and taxied into a culvert. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96348. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461381&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Airport Diagram (item 2, .PDF, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461382&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Accident Location Diagram (item 3, .PDF, 566 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461383&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Location%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 661 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461384&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. --- 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.