# NTSB WPR19LA184: Cessna TR182, N5JB, Lincoln, MT, June 30, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 30, 2019, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, MT - Coordinates: 47.159805, -112.67959 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1598&lon=-112.6796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99765 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99765/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99765 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA184 ## Probable cause A loss of control during landing, which resulted in a nose landing gear collapse and runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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 TR182, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna TR182, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072735), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the airplane in gusting wind conditions with the wing flaps extended to 40°. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a gust and the pilot applied full engine power for a go-around; however, the airplane “did not respond” and the pilot then chose to land on the remaining runway. The airplane landed hard and bounced, resulting in a nose landing gear collapse and a runway excursion. The wing flaps were found extended to about 35° following the accident, and the flap selector was in the fully extended (40°) position. The airplane’s pilot operating handbook (POH) stated that a flap setting less than 40° would improve airplane handling characteristics in gusting wind conditions. Additionally, the POH procedure for a go-around stated that the wing flaps should be retracted to 20° after applying engine power. It is likely that the airplane did not climb during the attempted go-around due to the pilot’s failure to retract the wing flaps; however, the airplane was not examined after the accident and whether a mechanical anomaly contributed could not be determined. Similarly, whether there were any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that contributed to the loss of control following the bounced landing could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 2019, about 1125 mountain daylight time, a Cessna TR182 airplane, N5JB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lincoln, Montana. The pilot received minor injuries, and the pilot-rated passenger was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, during the landing approach, the wind was "a little gusty" and he used 40° of flaps and a final approach speed of 65 knots. As he started the landing flare, he experienced an unexpected wind gust, and applied power for a go-around, but the engine did not respond, and he elected to land on the remaining runway. The airplane bounced, landed hard, and the nose landing gear separated. The airplane veered to the left and nosed over when it departed the runway and came to rest inverted on grass. An examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies or mechanical failures. The airplane came to rest about 3,100 ft beyond the runway 22 threshold, facing opposite the landing direction. The runway displayed impact signatures consistent with a nose landing gear failure and subsequent propeller strikes. Photos provided by the FAA indicated that the nose landing gear wheel and tire were separated from the strut, which was deformed aft. The outboard sections of all three propeller blades were bent/curled aft, with chordwise scoring at their outboard ends. The cabin was essentially intact, but the underfloor structure, including the region of the main landing gear attach points, was deformed. The aft fuselage sustained significant crush and twist damage. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed and bent, primarily in the down direction. All flight control surfaces remained attached to their primary aerodynamic structures. Both wings sustained wrinkling damage. Both flaps were found fully extended, and the flap selector handle and position indicator also were found in the fully extended position. The pitch trim was found near the full airplane-nose-down position. The airplane was equipped with electrically controlled wing flaps that could be actuated by positioning the cockpit flap switch to the desired flap setting. Normal landing flap setting was 40°, but lesser extensions (30°, 20°, or even less) were recommended in gusty conditions to improve handling characteristics. An examination of the flaps by a recovery technician revealed that the setting for the right and left flaps were respectively 34° and 35°. The pilot's operating handbook for the accident airplane states in part: Balked Landing 1. Power -- 31 INCHES Hg and 2400 RPM. 2. Wing Flaps -- RETRACT to 20°. 3. Climb Speed -- 70 KIAS until all obstacles are cleared. 4. Wing Flaps -- RETRACT slowly after reaching 75 KIAS. 5. Cowl Flaps -- OPEN. 6. Manifold Pressure -- REDUCE TO 25 INCHES Hg. 7. Carburetor Heat -- COLD. 8. Power -- READJUST as desired. In a balked landing(go-around) climb, the wing flap setting should be reduced to 20° immediately after full power is applied. After all obstacles are cleared and a safe altitude and airspeed are obtained, the wing flaps should be retracted. The accident airport was located at an elevation of 4,603 ft above mean sea level and was not equipped with weather reporting equipment. First responders, including airport operations personnel, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was gusty, generally out of the east-northeast, with steady-state speeds of 5 to 7 knots, and gusts of 15 to 25 knots. The wreckage was recovered and transported to a salvage facility, but then sold to a third party before the airframe and engine could be examined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5JB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5JB-2019-10-28), registration cancelled 2019-10-28, S/N R18201283, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna TR182 (No Series) - Registry model: [Cessna TR182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tr182) (registry code 2072735) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-L3C5D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-l3c5d) (registry code 42364, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18201283 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 2767 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2019 - Departed: 38S, Deer Lodge, MT - Destination: S69, Lincoln, MT - Airport: S69, Lincoln, runway 22, 4,239 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 9, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 360 total, 58 in this make and model, 310 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; injuries: none; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## 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 20190630008669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190630008669A), Jun 30, 2019: Cessna TR182, Lincoln, MT, Substantial damage. On June 30 at 1150MST a Cessna TR182, N5JB, registered to [privacy data omitted] made a hard landing breaking the nose gear and sliding off the runway and… ## Docket (12 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 17, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99765. 13.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13212271&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%20-%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - METAR of nearest airports (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13212594&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=14%20-%20METARs-Rel.pdf - Wind synopsis (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13212813&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=13%20-%20Wind%20Synopses-Rel.pdf - Us forest service weather data near accident airport (item 4, PDF, 7 pages, 553 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13212291&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=USFS%20Weather%20Data-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - PIC (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13212584&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20-%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20PIC%206%2030-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (airport operator) (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13212698&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6%20-%20ROC%20Cain%20July%2012%20NTSB%20Q-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (FAA inspector) (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13385576&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20CONVERSATION%20%20FAA%20Inspector%20184-Rel.pdf - Email from airport operator regarding skid and time (item 8, PDF, 3 pages, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13212281&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20-%20Ops%20Cain%207%2012%20email%20re%20skid%20and%20time_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flap extension measurement (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13212427&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Flap%20Extension%20Measurement%20by%20Recovery%20Company-Rel.pdf - Pilot operating handbook - balked landing (item 10, PDF, 2 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13383578&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=POH%20excerpt%20Balked%20Ldg-Rel.pdf - Photos of runway scars (item 11, PDF, 8 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13212407&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20-%20Runway%20Scar%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - On-scene photos (item 12, PDF, 12 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13212397&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20-%20On%20Scene%20Photos-Rel.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.