LAX03CA272

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 182J · Marble Canyon, AZ · August 31, 2003

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 31, 2003, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC)
Place
Marble Canyon, AZ
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N2898FCessna 182J
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 25, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20030831021899A
Case key
57833

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 failure of the pilot to retract the flaps and attain a sufficient airspeed during the attempted go-around, which resulted in a stall. The full nose-up trim was a contributing factor.

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.

Loss of control - in flightGo-around (vfr)
Go-around - attemptedPilot in command
Trim setting - excessivePilot in commandFactor
Flaps - not setPilot in commandCause
Airspeed - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The airplane stalled and then collided with the ground during an attempted go-around from runway 21. On final approach, the pilot configured the airplane with full flaps and full nose-up trim. During the intial touchdown, the airplane bounced. The pilot elected to go-around and added full power without retracting the flaps or changing the trim setting. About 10 feet agl, the left wing stalled. The airplane came to rest inverted on a 030-degree heading. The POH for the airplane states that during a go-around, the pilot should add full power, retract the flaps to 20 degrees, and obtain 55 knots.

Factual narrative

On August 31, 2003, about 0830 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182J, N2898F, collided with the ground during an attempted go-around at Marble Canyon Airport, Marble Canyon, Arizona. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had been filed. The personal cross-country flight originated from Cottonwood Airport, Cottonwood, Arizona, about 0730.

The pilot reported in a written statement that he circled Marble County Airport at 7,000 feet mean sea level (msl), attempting to get a clear visual of the airport windsock prior to landing. An attempt was also made to try to contact UNICOM for an airport advisory. Wind conditions could not be obtained from the windsock due to its poor condition and UNICOM was unmanned. The pilot elected to land on runway 21 and, at 4,600 feet msl, entered its standard traffic pattern from 45 degrees to downwind. On final approach full flaps and full nose-up trim were applied, and the airplane felt stable. During the initial touchdown, the airplane bounced and a go-around was initiated in an effort to avoid a potential propeller strike. With the airplane at full power and in nose-up configuration, the left wing stalled. No compensation was ever made for the full nose-up trim. The airplane came to rest inverted.

During a telephone interview with the pilot, he reported that he was never sure of the wind conditions at the airport. He also recalled that when executing the go-around he did not retract flaps. The airplane stalled about 10 feet above ground level (agl), nosed over, and came to rest on runway 21 with its nose pointing toward 030 degrees. The pilot could not speculate why the aircraft initially bounced on initial contact with the runway. There were no mechanical malfunctions reported.

The pilot operating handbook (POH) for the airplane states that during a go-around the pilot should add full power, retract flaps to 20 degrees, and then obtain 55 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N2898F
Reported as
Cessna 182J
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18256998
Engine
Continental O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Roy Daniels
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
P52 · Cottonwood, AZ
Destination
L41 · Marble Canyon, AZ
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
L41 · Marble Canyon, runway 210, 3,715 × 35 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
44
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
August 30, 2002
Seat
Front
Flight hours
374 total · 194 in this make and model · 294 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
30.14 inHg
Observed at
KPGA, 12 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.