# NTSB GAA18CA296: Cessna 182, N182EW, Prescott, WA, May 17, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 16, 2018, 17:00 local (May 17, 2018, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Prescott, WA - Coordinates: 46.220832, -118.121948 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2208&lon=-118.1219&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-into takeoff position: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97316 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA296 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97316/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97316 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA296 ## Probable cause The pilot’s taxiing too fast on rough terrain, which resulted in a loss of directional control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2075816), [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 182P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-into takeoff position: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Taxi-into takeoff position: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during taxi on a loose dirt surface, he initiated a left 180° turn. He reported that he was using a "fairly aggressive power setting to compensate for the surface conditions." During the left turn, the right wingtip struck the ground. Additionally, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane then rolled left, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to left wing. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if the airplane's power setting had not been more than what was needed and that "a more conservative power setting and slower taxi speed could prevent future occurrences." The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during taxi on a loose dirt surface, he initiated a left 180° turn. He reported that he was using a "fairly aggressive power setting to compensate for the surface conditions." During the left turn, the right wing-tip struck the ground. Additionally, the propeller struck the ground and the airplane rolled left and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to left wing. Per the National Transportation Safety Board, Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, in the Recommendation section, the pilot asserted that the accident could have been prevented if the airplanes power setting had not been more than what was needed. "A more conservative power setting and slower taxi speed could prevent future occurrences." The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N182EW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N182EW), registered now, S/N 18264841, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (P) - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18264841 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 3440 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-470-F 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 12, 2018 - Departed: ALW, Walla Walla, WA - Destination: Prescott, WA - Equipment: Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 21, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 283 total, 39 in this make and model, 162 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: ALW ## 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 20180516005449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180516005449A), May 16, 2018: Cessna 182P, Prescott, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot was conducting a planned landing in a field about five miles north of Prescott Washington. During taxi and repositioning for takeoff, the pilot reported… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97316. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467229&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.