IAD99LA021

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 182E · Akron, OH · November 25, 1998

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 25, 1998, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
Place
Akron, OH
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N3396YCessna 182E
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 7, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19981125046299A
Case key
45365

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

The pilot's inadequate preflight which resulted in a takeoff with the fuel cap unsecured.

Analysis

After takeoff, about 300 feet above the ground, the airplane's windscreen was immediately covered with oil, restricting the pilot's forward visibility. The pilot aborted the take off and 'slipped the airplane back' onto the remaining 100 feet of the runway. He applied power to get over railway tracks at the end of the runway, the airplane went up an embankment, and slid to a stop on a grassy field. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the oil filler cap was tightly secured and the oil dip stick was still in position. The top cowling to the engine was removed, and no loose hoses were found. Utilizing the oil streaking left on the cowling and the windscreen, oil was traced from the windscreen, down to the top of the cowling, towards the access door for the oil filler, and then to the oil filler cap. The pilot was uncertain when he last added oil to the engine.

Factual narrative

On November 25, 1998, about 1130 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182E, N3396Y, was substantially damaged as it collided with the terrain during an aborted take off from the Akron Fulton International Airport, Akron, Ohio. The certificated private pilot/owner and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that he was repositioning the airplane to the Kent State University Airport, Kent, Ohio. After adding 10 gallons of aviation gasoline and completion of a preflight check, the pilot taxied to runway 25. Without any abnormal indications, the pilot took off. Once airborne, the pilot stated that he climbed to about 300 feet when the windscreen was immediately covered with oil, restricting his forward visibility. The pilot aborted the take off and "slipped the airplane back" onto the remaining 100 feet of the 6,338 foot long runway. The pilot applied power to cross railway tracks at the end of the runway, and the airplane went up a 4 foot high embankment, collapsing the nose gear and shearing the right main landing gear. The airplane slid to a stop on a grassy field.

The pilot stated that he performed a preflight inspection and checked the oil before his departure from Clearwater, Florida on November 24, 1998. He was uncertain when he last added oil to the engine.

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage. The examination revealed that the nose gear and the right main landing gear were sheared. The propeller blades were bent and the airplane was resting upright on its right wing. The fuel selector was set on both, and the fuel migrated to the right wing tank. The oil filler cap was found tightly secured and the oil dip stick was still in position. The Inspector stated that he removed the top cowling to the engine, and was unable to find any loose hoses. Utilizing the oil streaking left on the cowling and the windscreen, the Inspector traced oil from the windscreen, down to the top of the cowling, towards the access door for the oil filler, and then to the oil filler cap.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Forced landingTakeoff - aborted
Lubricating system,oil filler cap - not securedCause
Aircraft preflight - inadequatePilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterTakeoff - aborted

Aircraft

Registration
N3396Y
Reported as
Cessna 182E
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18254396
Airframe hours
2,560
Engine
Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Clyde L. Floyd
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · October 16, 1998 · 30 hours before
Departed
AKR · OH
Destination
1G3 · Kent, OH
Airport
AKR · Akron Fulton Airport, runway 25, 6,338 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
64
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours
1,000 total · 150 in this make and model · 22 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
150° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
54 °F, dew point 27 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
AKR

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.