# NTSB WPR20LA099: Cessna 182, N4031D, Moab, UT, March 5, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 4, 2020, 23:15 local (Mar 5, 2020, 06:15 UTC) - Place: Moab, UT - Coordinates: 38.755832, -109.75389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7558&lon=-109.7539&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101032 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101032/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101032 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA099 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and the airplane’s subsequent noseover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072704), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 182A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072704), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he performed a normal three-point landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, and, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right. The pilot corrected by applying left rudder, and, shortly after, the airplane "pulled hard to the right." Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane exited the right side of the runway onto soft gravel and nosed over, which resulted in structural damage to the fuselage. The pilot added that he believed the right brake was “dragging significantly.” Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right brake caliper brake line attachment fitting was bent outward, toward the wheel assembly, which allowed for a portion of the brake line attached to the fitting to contact the inner wheel assembly. Associated rub marks on the inboard wheel assembly were found, consistent with contact with the brake line sleeve while the wheel was not in motion, and likely resulted from the accident. No additional anomalies were noted with the right brake or wheel assembly. The accident is consistent with the pilot not maintaining directional control during landing. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 2020, about 2315 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182A, N4031D, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Moab, Utah. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he performed a normal three-point landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane on runway 21 at night. During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right, which the pilot corrected by applying left rudder. Shortly after, the airplane "pulled hard to the right" and, despite the pilot's control inputs, exited the right side of the runway onto soft gravel and nosed over. The pilot added that he believed the right brake was “dragging significantly.” Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage was substantially damaged. Additional examination revealed that the fitting, where the brake line attaches to the upper portion of the brake caliper, was slightly bent outward toward the wheel assembly, which allowed for a portion of the brake line attached to the fitting to contact the inner wheel assembly, as shown in figure 1. Figure 1: View of the right main landing gear brake assembly. An area of scratched/displaced paint (about 3/4 to 1 inch wide and 1/4 inch tall) was observed on the wheel assembly. No additional damage was noted on the inboard portion of the wheel assembly. Additional damage was observed on the inboard side of the brake line sleeve fitting, as shown in figure 2. Figure 2: View of the right main landing gear brake assembly. The brake caliper and rotor were found unremarkable. When the brake line was pulled away from the wheel assembly, the wheel rotated freely by hand and was not restricted. However, when the brake line was not pulled away from the wheel assembly, it contacted the wheel assembly and rotated slightly before it stopped. It could not be determined when the caliper fitting was bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4031D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4031D), registered now, S/N 34731, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 182A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182a) (registry code 2072704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34731 - Year built: 1956 - Airframe hours: 5269 - Engines: Continental O-470L 225 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 25, 2019, 48 hours before - Departed: KGWS, Glenwood Spring, CO - Destination: CNY, Moab, UT - Airport: CNY, Canyonlands, runway 21, 7,300 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 8, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 16,411 total, 187 in this make and model, 7,033 as pilot in command, 216 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KCNY, 1 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 20200304006419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200304006419A), Mar 4, 2020: Cessna 182A, Moab, UT, Substantial damage. After touch down on runway 21, the aircraft veered to the right, corrective rudder was applied and the aircraft continued in a hard right turn. The wing tip… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101032. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11963979&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB airframe examination summary (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 2 photos, 564 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11964532&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20Exam-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11963989&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-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.