# NTSB NYC01LA041: Cessna 182Q, N735TF, Blacksburg, VA, November 18, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 18, 2000, 13:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Blacksburg, VA
- Coordinates: 37.229999, -80.419303 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2300&lon=-80.4193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50738
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50738/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA041

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare while landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

While on final approach to land, the pilot believed he was high and increased his rate of descent to the runway.  As the pilot flared the airplane, about 20 feet above the runway, it stalled and impacted the runway hard on the nose wheel.  The pilot initiated a go-around, and the airplane returned to land uneventfully.

## Factual narrative

On November 18, 2000, about 1340 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 182Q, N735TF, was substantially damaged while landing at the Virginia Tech Airport, Blacksburg, Virginia.  The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he began a descent from a cruise altitude of 6,000 feet, about 10 miles from the airport.  The pilot realized that he was close to the airport and made a 360-degree turn to lose additional altitude.  While on final approach to Runway 30, a 4,550-foot long, 100 foot wide, asphalt runway, the pilot believed he was still too high and increased his rate of descent.  As the airplane was flared, about 20 feet above the runway, the airplane stalled and impacted the runway hard on the nose wheel.  The pilot initiated a go-around and radioed to the UNICOM frequency, requesting that someone visually check the airplane for any damage.  After a fly-by, no damage was observed and the airplane returned to land uneventfully.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the nose gear assembly, the engine mounts, and the engine firewall.

The winds reported at the airport, at the time of the accident, were from 270 degrees at 6 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N735TF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N735TF), registered now, S/N 18265665, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 182Q
- Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18265665
- Airframe hours: 775
- Engines: Continental O-470-U 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: 735tf Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1999, 60 hours before
- Departed: SOP, SOUTHERN PINES, NC
- Destination: BCB
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BCB, Virginia Tech Airport, runway 30, 4,550 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,134 total, 920 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BCB

## 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 20001118041449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001118041449A), Nov 18, 2000: Cessna 182Q, Blacksburg, VA, Substantial damage. (.4) On November 18, 2000, about 1340 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182Q, N735TF, was substantially damaged while landing at the Virginia Tech Airport,…

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.