The private pilot was conducting a short flight to his home airport after picking up his Cessna 182C following an annual inspection.
There were no recorded communications between the pilot and air traffic control services.
Radar data first showed the 182 about 20 miles east of the departure airport. The radar targets indicated that the plane traveled toward the southeast with the final radar target about 11 miles west of the accident site in Pattonsburg, Missouri.
Several witnesses near the accident site reported hearing or observing the airplane flying in a low altitude and maneuvering to the north, east, and south. Witnesses described the airplane as flying about treetop level.
Examination of the accident site indicated a high-airspeed, near-vertical impact with trees and terrain consistent with a loss of airplane control. The pilot died in the crash.
Post-accident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. No medical issues were identified with the pilot that would have contributed to the accident.
Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control while maneuvering during low-level flight for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies.
NTSB Identification: CEN16FA059
This December 2015 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.
I also lost a good friend after picking up his Cessna 182 . The annual did include some rigging issues, my friend was a good pilot with substantial amount of hours both in a C182 and he also had a piper 235. After picking up his airplane, took off turned left or north continued straight about 15 miles or so right into rising terrain. Nothing was ever uncovered or reason for the accident, It sure makes you wander what caused this. Such a sorry loss.
I had a friend lost in his C182 on first flight after annual inspection. Significant flight control re-rigging was done. The plane flew nearly level in to rising terrain, totally destroyed on impact. What happened? Just like this report: “found nothing!”
I agree that a lot of GA accident investigations yield nothing or are a cope out.
Ray
It would be useful to know what the A&P touched/ worked on during the annual. The text indicates that it was 3 year since the last annual, so there could have been some repairs or replacement parts..!
After the annual on my Cessna, regardless what was worked on, I fly a ‘race track’ pattern within gliding distance of the airport for at least 45 minutes. I then land and check everything before I venture away from the airport.
What is there to be learned from this?