LAX08CA260

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 182D · Gerlach, NV · August 6, 2008

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 6, 2008, 08:20 local (15:20 UTC)
Place
Gerlach, NV
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N800RJCessna 182D
Defining event
Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 28, 2008
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20080806843739A
Case key
68637

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 pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during takeoff initial climb.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Performance/control parameters: altitudeAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 182D: 3 casesAll aircraft: 1,310 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: fence/fence postEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Not specifiedCessna 182D: 1 caseAll aircraft: 313 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot reported that he landed the airplane on a road in order to visit a ranch. After walking over to the ranch, he found that he had landed at the wrong location. He walked back to the airplane, performed a preflight inspection, and proceeded to takeoff from the road. During the takeoff initial climb, he felt the airplane sinking. The left main landing gear wheel struck a fence, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Both wings sustained structural damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he landed the airplane on a road in order to visit a ranch. After walking over to the ranch, he found that he had landed at the wrong location. He walked back to the airplane, performed a preflight inspection, and proceeded to takeoff from the road. During the takeoff initial climb, he felt the airplane sinking. The left main landing gear wheel struck a fence, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Both wings sustained structural damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine.

Aircraft

Registration
N800RJ
Reported as
Cessna 182D
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18253059
Engine
Continental O-470, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
NONE · Gerlach, NV
Destination
NONE

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
61
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
440 total · 88 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day

FAA reports on this event · 1

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