# NTSB NYC07CA059: Cessna 182E, N9392X, Ashland, VA, January 19, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 19, 2007, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Ashland, VA - Coordinates: 37.708332, -77.436668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7083&lon=-77.4367&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO, Cessna Aircraft Company - ADs cited in the narratives: [AD 87-20-03 R2](https://openairdocs.org/ad/87-20-03-R2) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 65194 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65194/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=65194 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA059 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly secure the seat locking pin. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb - fuselage,seat - slipped - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, emergency landing - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The pilot of the Cessna 182E reported that he was conducting night proficiency takeoffs and landings. The first two takeoffs and landings occurred normally; however, after the third takeoff, just after the airplane had lifted off the runway, the pilot's seat slipped all the way to the rear stops. The pilot then pulled the throttle back to prevent a further climb, and the airplane landed hard on the runway. A subsequent examination of the seat rails, seat rail pinholes, seat adjustment pin and coil spring by a manufacturer's representative and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed no anomalies. Airworthiness Directive 87-20-03 R2 had been complied with, and an annual inspection had been performed about 7 months earlier. Another FAA inspector, about the same size of the pilot, subsequently tested the seat locking mechanisms while sitting in the seat. He found that when the seat locking pin was secured in any of the pin holes, he could not move the seat. However, when the seat pin was not securely locked in a hole, with "very little" weight shift, the seat would slide backwards to the rear stops without the pin engaging any of the pinholes. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the Cessna 182E reported that he was conducting night proficiency takeoffs and landings. The first two takeoffs and landings occurred normally; however, after the third takeoff, just after the airplane had lifted off the runway, the pilot's seat slipped all the way to the rear stops. The pilot then pulled the throttle back to prevent a further climb, and the airplane landed hard on the runway. A subsequent examination of the seat rails, seat rail pinholes, seat adjustment pin and coil spring by a manufacturer's representative and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed no anomalies. Airworthiness Directive 87-20-03 R2 had been complied with, and an annual inspection had been performed about 7 months earlier. Another FAA inspector, about the same size of the pilot, subsequently tested the seat locking mechanisms while sitting in the seat. He found that when the seat locking pin was secured in any of the pin holes, he could not move the seat. However, when the seat pin was not securely locked in a hole, with "very little" weight shift, the seat would slide backwards to the rear stops without the pin engaging any of the pinholes. ## Aircraft - Registration: N9392X (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182E - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18253792 - Airframe hours: 5130 - Engines: Continental O-470 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Darin Dunham - Registered owner: IFR, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2006 - Departed: OFP, Ashland, VA - Destination: Ashland, VA - Airport: OFP, Hanover County, runway 34 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 139 total, 73 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 9, 2007, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=65194. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 270 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274523&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspectors' Statements (item 2, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspectors%27%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Cessna Air Safety Investigator Exam Report (item 3, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274525&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20Air%20Safety%20Investigator%20Exam%20Report-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representative (item 4, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274527&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representative-Redacted.PDF - Photo: Lock Pin in Outboard Track (Cessna Photo) (item 5, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274529&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Lock%20Pin%20in%20Outboard%20Track%20(Cessna%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo: Outboard Seat Tangs (Cessna Photo) (item 6, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274530&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Outboard%20Seat%20Tangs%20(Cessna%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo: Outboard Seat Track (Cessna Photo) (item 7, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274532&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Outboard%20Seat%20Track%20(Cessna%20Photo)%20-Master.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.