# NTSB IAD96LA152: Cessna 182B, N2731G, Hanover, PA, September 22, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 21, 1996, 20:00 local (Sep 22, 1996, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Hanover, PA - Coordinates: 39.809185, -76.980934 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8092&lon=-76.9809&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28113 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28113/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA152 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper planning/decision and failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during the landing roll. Related factors were: darkness, the lack of usable runway lights, and the road grading equipment parked 50 feet from the edge of the grass runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway edge lights - unavailable (contributing factor) - object - vehicle (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot took off with four skydivers on board the airplane, and climbed to 10,000 feet. After the skydivers exited the airplane, the pilot returned to land at the departure airport. The pilot stated that after landing, the airplane impacted parked road grading equipment. He reported that it was a dark night and winds were calm when the accident occurred. An FAA inspector stated that the road grading equipment was parked approximately 50 feet south of the 100 foot wide grass runway. He also reported that only 4 runway lights were functioning at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On September 21, 1996, at about 2000 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182C, N2731G, sustained substantial damage when it departed the right side of the grass runway and collided with parked road grading equipment at Hanover Airport, in Hanover, Pennsylvania. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. Visual meteorological nighttime conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Hanover, Pennsylvania, at approximately 1940. The purpose of the flight was to drop parachutists. The pilot stated that he departed from Hanover with 4 skydivers on board the airplane. After the skydivers exited the airplane at 10,000 feet mean sea level, the pilot returned to land at Hanover. He stated that he landed normally on runway 9, but "...following the landing I noticed an area of rough ground...before I could react, I ran into a piece of heavy equipment... ." The right wing of the airplane struck the front of the parked road grading equipment. The pilot stated that it was dark night and winds were calm when the accident occurred. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector stated that the road grading equipment was located about 50 feet south of the 100 foot wide grass runway 9. He stated that there were only four functioning runway lights on runway 9, "...two lights at the approach [end] and two lights along the north edge of runway 9." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2731G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2731G-1999-07-26), registration cancelled 1999-07-26, S/N 52031 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182B - Registry model: [Cessna 182B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182b) (registry code 2072706) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52031 - Airframe hours: 3764 - Engines: Continental O-470-L1B 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: James A. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 1996, 204 hours before - Departed: 6N6 - Airport: 6W6, Hanover, runway 9, 3,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 2,700 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 15 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19960921046819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960921046819A), Sep 21, 1996: Cessna 182B, Hanover, PA, Substantial damage. (-16) [privacy data omitted] 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.