- Date
- March 18, 1994, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Belgrade, MT
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2399RCessna 182G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940318005929A
- Case key
- 41897
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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. The intentional ground loop and the fence were factors in the accident.
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 during the takeoff roll, and just as the aircraft broke ground, the engine 'surged and cut out.' The pilot aborted the takeoff on the turf runway and intentionally ground looped the aircraft to avoid rolling into a stream beyond the runway's upwind end. The aircraft collided with a fence and the nose landing gear collapsed during the aborted landing. The aircraft then nosed over. A test run of the engine from idle to full power following the accident revealed no mechanical malfunction.
Factual narrative
On March 18, 1994, approximately 1015 hours mountain standard time (mst), a Cessna 182G, N2399R, registered to and being flown by Harry E. Noel (Jr.), a certificated commercial pilot, was destroyed when it nosed over during an aborted takeoff following a partial loss of power at a private dirt airstrip near Belgrade, Montana. The pilot and two passengers were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated in accordance with the requirements set forth in 14CFR91 and was departing from the pilot's private airstrip and destined for Elko, Nevada.
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll he applied "turbo to increase manifold pressure by two or three inches" and that During the takeoff he did "not remember feeling that increase in power."
He further stated that "just as I broke ground (the) engine surged and then cut out." The pilot closed the throttle, aborted his takeoff, and attempted to stop the aircraft on the remaining surface of the 2,200 foot turf runway.
The pilot reported in a telephone interview with the investigator in charge that during the abort the aircraft collided with a barb wire fence and that the pilot intentionally applied right brake in an attempt to ground loop the aircraft and prevent it from entering a stream.
The nose gear collapsed during the rollout and the aircraft then nosed over.
The aircraft's engine was subsequently test run at the facilities of Arlin's Aircraft Services at the Bozeman airport. The engine was run from idle to full power without any malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2399R
- Reported as
- Cessna 182G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18255499
- Airframe hours
- 3,544
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Noel, Harry, E. (Jr)
- Registered owner
- Noel, Harry, E. (Jr)
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 1993 · 5 hours before
- Destination
- EKO · Elko, NV
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- Thompson Field (Private), runway 9, 2,200 × 40 ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 4,000 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BZN, 1 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.