# NTSB NYC02LA108: Cessna 182B, N2555G, Littlestown, PA, June 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 2, 2002, 16:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Littlestown, PA - Coordinates: 39.726943, -77.111946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7269&lon=-77.1119&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 54826 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54826/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54826 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA108 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flair, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor in this accident was the crosswind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis While landing on runway 3, the airplane's right wing contacted the runway and the airplane landed hard. A weather observation reported at an airport about 18 miles northeast of the accident site, included winds from 320 degrees at 13 knots. The pilot further reported that he conducted an uneventful flight an hour prior to the accident, with the same wind conditions. ## Factual narrative On June 2, 2002, about 1605 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182B, N2555G, was substantially damaged while landing at the Kingsdale Airport (PA23), Littlestown, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the parachuting flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot said he had dropped skydivers and was returning to land on runway 3, a 2,060-foot long, 100-foot wide, turf strip. During the flair stage of landing, the airplane was caught in a "downdraft." The airplane's right wing contacted the runway and the airplane landed hard. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed damage to the nose gear, propeller, firewall and wing tips. The pilot reported he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane. A weather observation reported at an airport about 18 miles northeast of the accident site, included winds from 320 degrees at 13 knots. The pilot further reported that he conducted an uneventful flight an hour prior to the accident, with the same wind conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2555G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2555G-2018-03-01), registration cancelled 2018-03-01, S/N 51855, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182B - Registry model: [Cessna 182B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182b) (registry code 2072706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 51855 - Airframe hours: 9485 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: SkyDivin Place Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 6, 2002, 70 hours before - Departed: PA23, Littlestown, PA - Destination: PA23 - Airport: 76W, Kingsdale Air Park, runway 03, 2,060 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 25, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 290 total, 100 in this make and model, 255 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: THV, 18 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020602017709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020602017709A), Jun 2, 2002: Cessna 182B, Littlestown, PA, No damage. (-23) Pilot misjudged the amount of correction needed for the crosswind while landing. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54826. 467 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 467 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.