# NTSB WPR11CA124: Cessna 182D, N8859X, Quartzsite, AZ, February 6, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 6, 2011, 16:48 local (23:48 UTC) - Place: Quartzsite, AZ - Coordinates: 33.744445, -114.477218 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7444&lon=-114.4772&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78290 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78290/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78290 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA124 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind and subsequent loss of directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a parked aircraft. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182D, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072710), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll from the short dirt airstrip, the airplane encountered a gust of wind. He attempted to apply corrective control inputs; however, the airplane departed the runway and struck a powered parachute, which was parked on the adjacent taxi area. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff, and flew an additional hour to his destination airport. Witnesses also reported that, soon after the airplane began its takeoff roll, it swerved onto the taxiway, continuing its takeoff attempt almost to the end of the runway, where it struck the powered parachute. The airplane sustained substantial damage, which included a 12-inch-wide gash in the fuselage structure stretching from the baggage door to the aft of the tailcone. Both witness reports, and official weather observations, indicated that a strong quartering tailwind existed on the departure runway at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll from the short dirt airstrip, the airplane encountered a gust of wind. He attempted to apply corrective control inputs; however, the airplane departed the runway and struck a powered parachute, which was parked on the adjacent taxi area. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff, and flew an additional hour to his destination airport. Witnesses reported that soon after the airplane began its takeoff roll, it swerved onto the taxiway, continuing its takeoff attempt almost to the end of the runway, where it struck the powered parachute. The powered parachute was destroyed during the accident sequence, and the airplane sustained substantial damage, which included a 12-inch-wide gash in the fuselage structure stretching from the baggage door to the aft of the tailcone. Both witness reports, and official weather observations, indicated that strong quartering tailwind conditions existed on the departure runway at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8859X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8859X-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N 18253259, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182D - Registry model: [Cessna 182D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182d) (registry code 2072710) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18253259 - Airframe hours: 4026 - Engines: Continental Motors O-470L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 2010, 7 hours before - Departed: PVT, Quartzsite, AZ - Destination: PSP, Palm Springs, CA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: PVT, Quartzsite Airstrip, runway 18, 1,325 × 80 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 8, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 495 total, 277 in this make and model, 451 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: BLH, 28 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 20110206002079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110206002079A), Feb 6, 2011: Cessna 182D, Quartzsite, AZ, Substantial damage. 1. At approximately 16:00 PST on February 6, 2010 N8859X, a Cessna 182D, began a take off roll on the private dirt Airstrip located on the west side of the… ## Other investigations on N8859X (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN80FTM31](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FTM31), Jul 19, 1980: Cessna 182 (N8859X), Hanksville, UT, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78290. 680 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 275 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344457&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344459&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photograph 1: Damage to Airplane (FAA Photograph) (item 3, .PDF, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344460&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%3A%20Damage%20to%20Airplane%20(FAA%20Photograph)-Master.PDF - Photograph 2: Runway FacingTakeoff Direction (Witness Photograph) (item 4, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40344461&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%202%3A%20Runway%20FacingTakeoff%20Direction%20(Witness%20Photograph)-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.