# NTSB IAD97LA077: Cessna 182P, N20892, Wentworth, NH, May 24, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 1997, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Wentworth, NH - Location: 43.8717° N, 71.9143° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wentworth, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8717&lon=-71.9143&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28197 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28197/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA077 ## Probable cause Pilot's inadequate preflight planning to determine the suitability of an unimproved field for landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The private pilot asked the owner of a field conveniently located to his business for permission to land. The pilot stated that he landed on grass runways previously, but never on unimproved surfaces. His preparation for the flight did not include an examination of the field conditions prior to the landing attempt. On landing rollout, the pilot stated that the field seemed rougher than anticipated. At 25 knots, the nose gear dug into a soft portion of the ground and the airplane flipped, coming to rest inverted. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 1997, about 1045 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N20892, was substantially damaged as it flipped over during landing rollout in a field near Wentworth, New Hampshire. The certificated private pilot/owner was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from the Plymouth Municipal Airport, Plymouth, New Hampshire, about 1030. The private pilot stated that he was frustrated because the Plymouth Municipal Airport was a 1 hour car drive distance away, and seemed to be useable only half of the year. The pilot stated that he wanted someplace conveniently located to his business. He asked the owner of the field for permission to land. The pilot reported that he had landed on grass runways previously, but never on an unimproved surface. He stated that he did not closely examine the field's conditions prior to the landing attempt. During the landing roll out, the pilot found the field rougher than anticipated. At 25 knots, he stated that the nose gear dug into a soft portion of the ground and the airplane flipped over, coming to rest inverted. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector reported that the field was a non recognized airstrip, without an official designator, although pilots have used the field in the past. He described the field as 3,500 feet long, with clear approaches a each end. The private pilot had accumulated a total of 654 flight hours, with 359 hours in make and model. He stated that the airplane was functioning normally prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20892](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20892-2011-09-26), registration cancelled 2011-09-26, S/N 18261291, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182P - 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: 18261291 - Airframe hours: 2909 - Engines: Continental O-470-R-25 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John M. King, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 1996, 100 hours before - Departed: NH12, PLYMOUTH, NH - Destination: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 654 total, 359 in this make and model, 609 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BML, 20 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 19970524011839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970524011839A), May 24, 1997: Cessna 182P, Wentworth, NH, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed in a field, nose wheel dug into soft dirt and flipped over.(.4) the private pilot asked the owner of a field conveniently located to his… 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.