# NTSB WPR12CA060: Cessna 182C, N800YD, Lowman, ID, December 10, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 10, 2011, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Lowman, ID - Coordinates: 44.142223, -115.313888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1422&lon=-115.3139&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82491 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82491/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82491 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA060 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of the runway surface firmness, which resulted in a nose-over during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182C, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072708), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he determined that the snow-covered runway was suitable for landing, based, in part, upon overflying it and seeing snowmobile tracks, which indicated to him that the surface was firm enough. After touching down on the main landing gear, the pilot held the nosewheel off the ground with full-aft elevator pressure, but, when the nosewheel settled, the airplane pitched down violently. It traveled for about 80 feet in the nose-down attitude before it abruptly nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing and rudder. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane that would have precluded its normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after overflying the snow-covered runway he determined that it was suitable to land on. His determination was based in part on observing snowmobile tracks on the runway, which indicated to him that the surface was firm enough to land on. After touching down he held the nose wheel off the ground with full aft elevator pressure, but when he lowered the nose wheel onto the snow-covered surface the airplane pitched down violently. The airplane subsequently traveled for about 80 feet in the nose down attitude before it abruptly nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing and rudder. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical issues with the airplane that would have precluded its normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N800YD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N800YD-2013-02-27), registration cancelled 2013-02-27, S/N 52418, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182C - Registry model: [Cessna 182C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182c) (registry code 2072708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52418 - Airframe hours: 5209 - Engines: Continental O-470L 220 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jeffrey Vanhoozer - Registered owner: T-Craft Aero Club Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 2011 - Departed: U88, Garden Valley, ID - Destination: 0U1, Lowman, ID - Airport: 0U1, Warm Springs Creek, runway 02, 2,850 × 135 ft, grass/turf ## 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 June 19, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 315 total, 165 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 3 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: BOI, 32 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 20111210029529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111210029529A), Dec 10, 2011: Cessna 182C, Lowman, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted landing at a snow-covered unimproved airstrip with no available runway condition information available, with the exception of his own… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 23, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82491. 466 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 426 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360375&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 2, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-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.