# NTSB IAD98LA022: Cessna 182M, N71763, Mount Pleasant, PA, January 14, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 14, 1998, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Mount Pleasant, PA
- Coordinates: 40.14986, -79.540489 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1499&lon=-79.5405&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 27, 1999
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28274
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD98LA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28274/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA022

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to initiate a go-around, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush
  - aborted landing - initiated, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The airplane touched down two-thirds of the way down the runway, which was covered with a half-inch of snow.  The runway is 2,295 feet long.  The pilot aborted the landing, and the airplane stalled over 50 foot high trees, about 300 feet beyond the departure end of the runway.  The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 050 degrees at 8 knots.  Examination of the wreckage did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction with the airplane or engine.

## Factual narrative

On January 14, 1998, at 1530 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182M, N71763, was destroyed when it collided with trees during an aborted landing at the Mount Pleasant Airport, Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania.  The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed.  The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated at Somerset, Pennsylvania.

According to the pilot, he touched down long on runway 24.  He aborted the landing, and the airplane stalled over 50 foot high trees, 300 feet beyond the departure end of the runway.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the airplane touched down 2/3 down the 2,295 foot long, turf runway.   The runway was covered with snow about 1/2 inch deep.  The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 050 degrees at 8 knots.

According to the FAA, the pilot reported over 1,100 hours of flight experience in make and model.  Examination of the wreckage did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction with the airplane or engine.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N71763](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71763-1998-08-31), registration cancelled 1998-08-31, S/N 18259744 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 182M
- Registry model: [Cessna 182M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182m) (registry code 2072728) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18259744
- Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alex Majesky
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 14, 1997
- Departed: 2G9, SOMERSET CO, PA
- Destination: P45
- Airport: P45, Mount Pleasant, runway 24, 2,295 × 158 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,150 total, 1,100 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LBE, 15 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 19980114000329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980114000329A), Jan 14, 1998: Cessna 182M, Mount Pleasant, PA, Destroyed. Tried land into sun on snow covered grass runway. Unable stop. Tried go araound hit tree. Stalled and crashed. (.4)the airplane touched down two-thirds of the…

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.