- Date
- April 22, 2012, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Delle, UT
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2701FCessna 182J
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 7, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120422012259A
- Case key
- 83453
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 properly monitor the environment during the departure from a gravel parking area and runway, which resulted in the airplane’s collision with a mound of gravel.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that a large pile of gravel had been left on the parking area that was near but not directly in line with the start of the runway. The pilot stated that from his airplane’s parking place he could see two signs marking the runway but could not see the pile of gravel between the two signs because it blended with the terrain. The pilot reported that he began his takeoff roll from the gravel parking area, but had not yet reached takeoff speed, when the airplane collided with the pile of gravel, substantially damaging the left wing, firewall and engine mounts. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that a large pile of gravel had been left on the parking area that was close to the start of the runway. This pile was not in line with the starting point of the runway, but close to it. From where the pilot had his airplane parked he could see the two signs marking the runway and directly in the center was the pile of gravel that blended into the terrain. The pilot reported that he began his takeoff roll from this gravel parking area and collided with the pile of gravel at full power, but not yet takeoff speed. The left wing, firewall and engine mounts were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2701F
- Reported as
- Cessna 182J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18256801
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-470 SERIES, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Cravens G Ralph
- Registered owner
- Cravens G Ralph
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- U42 · West Jordan, UT
- Destination
- Delle, UT
- Airport
- N/A · Delle, runway 25, 1,502 × 35 ft, gravel
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
- 83
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 30, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,819 total · 700 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2701F · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.