# NTSB WPR13CA231: Cessna 182P, N911HE, Carson City, NV, May 15, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 15, 2013, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Carson City, NV - Coordinates: 39.136943, -119.867225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1369&lon=-119.8672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86908 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA231 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86908/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86908 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA231 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after an encounter with downdrafts while flying over mountainous terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was on a personal scenic tour flight; the airplane was climbing southwest, and approaching 9,000 feet mean sea level. He planned to cross a mountain saddle between 400 and 500 feet above ground level. The flight encountered a strong downdraft; the airspeed dropped to about 80 mph,and the airplane stopped climbing. It then encountered another downdraft, which resulted in the airplane descending. The pilot attempted to arrest the descent by applying full engine power, but was unsuccessful. He maneuvered the airplane to avoid some trees before impacting the rising terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the tail section. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Factual narrative The pilot was on a personal scenic tour flight; the airplane was climbing southwest, and approaching 9,000 feet mean sea level. He planned to cross a mountain saddle between 400 and 500 feet above ground level. The flight encountered a strong downdraft; the airspeed dropped to about 80 mph,and the airplane stopped climbing. It then encountered another downdraft, which resulted in the airplane descending. The pilot attempted to arrest the descent by applying full engine power, but was unsuccessful. He maneuvered the airplane to avoid some trees before impacting the rising terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the tail section. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N911HE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N911HE-2018-03-07), registration cancelled 2018-03-07, S/N 18261419, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18261419 - Airframe hours: 4309 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 2012, 124 hours before - Departed: CXP, Carson City, NV - Destination: CXP, Carson City, NV - Airport: CXP, Carson City ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 3, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 19,880 total, 378 in this make and model, 7,778 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 16 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: CXP, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20130515007219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130515007219A), May 15, 2013: Cessna 182P, Carson City, NV, Substantial damage. The pilot reported that he was at a climb speed of about 100 mph. At about 30 seconds before impact the aircraft was hit with a down draft that basically… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 18, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86908. 8.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394656&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Accident airplane at accident site (item 2, .PDF, 6.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394659&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Accident%20airplane%20at%20accident%20site-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.