- Date
- October 19, 2007, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Hendersonville, NC
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1437SCessna 182
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20071019829589A
- Case key
- 66944
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to calculate weight and balance prior to departure, which resulted in departure above the maximum allowable gross weight, and the airplane's inability to climb. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The Cessna 182 took off "right at max gross weight," accelerated, but did not climb. The pilot maneuvered around trees immediately after takeoff, but the airplane eventually struck trees in its path. The pilot reported that the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies during run-up and the takeoff. Weight and balance calculations after the accident revealed that with 3 adult males, 3 golf bags, luggage, and full fuel tanks, the airplane's estimated weight was 3,135 pound. The manufacturer's maximum allowable gross weight was 2,950 pounds. The runway was 3,075 feet long, at 2,084 feet elevation, and the density altitude computed for the departure airport at the time of the accident was 3,571 feet. The pilot reported that he did not conduct weight and balance calculations "with a pencil and paper" prior to departure.
Factual narrative
The Cessna 182 took off "right at max gross weight," accelerated, but did not climb. The pilot maneuvered around trees immediately after takeoff, but the airplane eventually struck trees in its path. The pilot reported that the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies during run-up and the takeoff. Weight and balance calculations after the accident revealed that with 3 adult males, 3 golf bags, luggage, and full fuel tanks, the airplane's estimated weight was 3,135 pound. The manufacturer's maximum allowable gross weight was 2,950 pounds. The runway was 3,075 feet long, at 2,084 feet elevation, and the density altitude computed for the departure airport at the time of the accident was 3,571 feet. The pilot reported he did not conduct weight and balance calculations "with a pencil and paper" prior to departure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1437S
- Reported as
- Cessna 182
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18264985
- Engine
- Continental O-470, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William R. Jackson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 0A7 · Hendersonville, NC
- Destination
- SUA · Stuart, FL
- Airport
- 0A7 · Hendersonville, runway 14, 3,075 × 80 ft, asphalt
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
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 4,087 total · 4,005 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.