Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: 4 Minor. Location: Tiskilwa, Ill. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot and three passengers was attempting to takeoff from a 1,600-foot private airfield. The C-182 had been modified for short takeoff and landing (STOL) operations.
The pilot reported he was doing a short field, maximum performance takeoff when the plane encountered two strong wind gusts immediately after rotation, which caused the left wing tip to contact the ground and the airplane to nose over.
Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that airplane was in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude, with the engine and propeller twisted about 90° from the fuselage. Both wings had extensive damage, and the fuselage was crumpled and bent toward the cabin roof at a 45° angle.
The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane before the accident.
According to the STOL manufacturer, a short field takeoff should be performed with 20° of flaps and full throttle, followed by a lift-off at 35 knots, and then a level off and turn after reaching an airspeed of 45 knots.
Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control while performing a short field takeoff.
NTSB Identification: CEN12CA665
This August 2012 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Pilot error,plain and simple.
Pilot’s loss of control? The pilot didn’t “lose” control of anything, unless of course a control cable broke which is highly unusual, unlikely, and not documented. The pilot allowed the airplane to get out of its designed aerodynamic limits for normal flight. This old saw that a couple of wind gusts happened after rotation won’t cut it either. The airplane was allowed to stall at a height that was not suitable for a recovery because of not maintaining sufficient airspeed above stall speed based on the wind conditions. Don’t blame it on the wind gusts unless you are in a thunderstorm or a huricane that you shouldn’t be in in the first place. Think about it.