# NTSB MIA99LA035: Cessna 182C, N8620T, St. Petersburg, FL, November 20, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 20, 1998, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: St. Petersburg, FL - Coordinates: 27.770025, -82.630393 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.7700&lon=-82.6304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45356 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45356/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA035 ## Probable cause the pilot misjudged the flare, resulting in a hard land and subsequent damage to the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The flight was under a special VFR request en route to St. Petersburg. According to the pilot, as he began to flare the airplane the plane dropped as if a strong downdraft hit. The reported winds and visibility at the airport about the time of the accident was reported as: winds from 140 degrees at 5 knots, and the visibility was 1 3/4 sm, with haze. The accident was not reported immediately after it had occurred, about 1 week later an FAA inspector was doing a surveillance at an FBO (fixed base operator) and noticed N8620T with it's nose gear 'severely bent aft.' When the inspector examined the wreckage it was determined that the airplane had sustained substantial damage. According to the FAA's report, '[the] pilot had a hard landing causing substantial damage to the aircraft structure.' ## Factual narrative On November 20, 1998, about 1045 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182C, N8620T, registered to a private individual, collided with terrain during a landing at the Albert Whitted Airport, St. Petersburg, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot, and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated about 1030, from Palmetto, Florida. The flight departed Palmetto and the pilot requested a special VFR en route to St. Petersburg. According to the pilot, as he began to flare the airplane the plane dropped as if a strong downdraft hit. The reported winds and visibility at the airport about the time of the accident was reported as: winds from 140 degrees at 5 knots, and the visibility was 1 3/4 sm, with haze. The accident was not reported immediately after it had occurred, about 1 week later an FAA inspector was doing a surveillance at a FBO (fixed base operator) and noticed N8620T with its nose gear "severely bent aft." When the inspector examined the wreckage it was determined that the airplane had sustained substantial damage. According to the FAA's report, "[the] pilot had a hard landing causing substantial damage to the aircraft structure." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8620T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8620T-2010-05-03), registration cancelled 2010-05-03, S/N 52520, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182C - Registry model: [Cessna 182C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182c) (registry code 2072708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52520 - Airframe hours: 2336 - Engines: Lycoming O-370L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John C. Greenlaw - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1998, 56 hours before - Departed: 48X, PALMETTO, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SPG, Albert Whitted, runway 36, 2,864 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 703 total, 32 in this make and model, 703 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 1.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SPG ## 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 19981120032529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981120032529A), Nov 20, 1998: Cessna 182C, St Petersburg, FL, Substantial damage. (.19)On November 2, 1998, about 1045 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182C, N8620T, registered to a private individual, collided with terrain during a landing… 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.