- Date
- July 8, 1997, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Hayfield Twnshp, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4951DCessna 182A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 10, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970708047409A
- Case key
- 39398
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 improper decision to attempt a takeoff from unsuitable terrain and failure to maintain airspeed. A factor in this accident was the gusty wind conditions.
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 pilot reported that he had performed a precautionary landing to a corn field due to strong winds, heavy rain, and low fuel. He refueled the airplane and decided to continue to his destination. Initially, the pilot performed a partial takeoff, which was aborted, to obtain the conditions of the field. The pilot then elected to take off from the wet field, which was sloped uphill, and contained corn plants approximately 12 inches high. The pilot stated that during the takeoff, the airspeed was low, and that he overcorrected for gusty winds. The airplane's wing tip contacted the ground, the airplane ground looped and a postcrash fire ensued. Winds reported at a nearby airport were from 230 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 23 knots.
Factual narrative
On July 8, 1997, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182A, N4951D, was destroyed when it collided with terrain during the initial takeoff climb from a corn field, near Hayfield Township, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight destined for the Moorhead Airpark Airport (PA08), North East, Pennsylvania. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that he had performed a precautionary landing to a corn field due to strong winds, heavy rain, and low fuel. He refueled the airplane and planned to depart for PA08. Initially, the pilot performed a partial takeoff, which was aborted, to obtain the conditions of the field. The pilot then elected to takeoff. The pilot stated that during the takeoff, the airspeed was low, and that he overcorrected for gusty winds. The airplane's wing tip contacted the ground, and the airplane ground looped. A post crash fire ensued, which consumed the cabin.
The pilot further reported that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, and examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector (FAA) did not disclose any evidence of mechanical abnormalities.
According to an FAA Inspector, the field that the pilot was attempting to depart from was sloped uphill and contained corn plants approximately 12 inches high.
A witness at the accident site stated, "...It was very windy and the ground was wet." Winds reported at a nearby airport, were from 230 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 23 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4951D
- Reported as
- Cessna 182A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 51051
- Airframe hours
- 4,051
- Engine
- Continental O470, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert A. Lorei
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 3, 1996
- Departed
- NONE
- Destination
- PA08 · North East, PA
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
- 57
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 871 total · 400 in this make and model · 622 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GKJ, 7 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.