# NTSB GAA18CA157: Cessna 182, N96772, Rockford, IL, March 12, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 12, 2018, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Rockford, IL - Coordinates: 42.195278, -89.097221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1953&lon=-89.0972&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 27, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96856 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96856/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96856 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA157 ## Probable cause The pilot’s unnecessary action during the approach, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: unnecessary action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Approach-IFR initial approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing, about 20 ft above ground level and about 80 kts, he reached for his iPad. He took his eyes off the runway to grab the device that was located on the seat next to him, and the airplane collided with the ground in a nose-down attitude. The pilot reported that he should not have taken his eyes off the runway during landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage stringers, longerons, and formers. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during landing, about 20ft above ground level and about 80kts, he reached for his iPad. He took his eyes off the runway to grab the device that was located on the seat next to him and the airplane collided with the ground, in a nose down attitude. The pilot reported that he should not have taken his eyes off the runway during landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage stringers, longerons, and formers. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96772](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96772-2021-10-30), registration cancelled 2021-10-30, S/N 18266846 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (Q) - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18266846 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 3144 - Engines: Continental O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 21, 2017 - Departed: DBQ, Dubuque, CA - Destination: RFD, Rockford, IL - Airport: RFD, Chicago/Rockford Intl, runway 01, 8,200 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 9, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,428 total, 3,328 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 9 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KRFD ## 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 20180312002319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180312002319A), Mar 12, 2018: Cessna 182Q, Rockford, IL, Substantial damage. On March 12, 2018, the pilot in command (PIC) of N96772, a Cessna C-182, departed dubuque regional airport (dbq) on a cross-country flight to chicago/Rockford… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 20, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96856. 3.5 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=40464251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 215 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464252&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%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.