N2452M Cessna 182 accident

NTSB CHI94LA306 · 1994-08-30 · INDIANAPOLIS, IN · near I21

Summary

UPON REACHING HIS DESTINATION, THE PILOT DECIDED TO PRACTICE EMERGENCY ENGINE OUT PROCEDURES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE BEGAN THE PROCEDURE BY PULLING THE MIXTURE CONTROL. ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT PUT THE MIXTURE CONTROL BACK IN THE RICH POSITION BECAUSE THE PROPELLER HAD STOPPED SPINNING. HE ALSO DID NOT ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE BECAUSE HE WAS COMMITTED TO THE LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH AIRSPEED NOR ALTITUDE TO COMPLETE THE TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL. AFTER CLEARING A ROAD, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND IMPACTED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE THEN BOUNCED, IMPACTED A BEAN FIELD ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY, AND BECAME INVERTED.

Full narrative

On August 30, 1994, at 1045 central daylight time, a Cessna 182, N2452M, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing at Indianapolis Brookside Airpark, Indianapolis, Indiana. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight originated from Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport, Indianapolis, at 1035. The flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without flight plan.

In a statement made to the FAA, the pilot reported that upon his arrival at Indianapolis Brookside, he decided to practice emergency engine out procedures. The pilot stated he began the procedure by pulling the mixture control. The airplane then lost all engine power and the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing on runway 24. The pilot stated he did not put the mixture control back in to the rich position because the propeller had stopped spinning. He also did not attempt to restart the engine because he stated he was committed to the landing. The pilot stated the airplane did not have enough airspeed nor altitude to complete the turn from base to final. After clearing a road, the airplane stalled and impacted the runway. After the initial impact, the airplane bounced, impacted a bean field adjacent to the runway, and became inverted.

No preimpact mechanical abnormalities were reported by the pilot.

Probable cause

the pilot's improper use of the mixture control, the poorly planned approach and the inadvertent stall. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.

Circumstances

Event type: Accident
Highest injury: None
Weather conditions: Visual Meteorological Cond
Light condition: Day
Sky condition: NONE
Ceiling (ft): 0
Visibility (sm): 15
Wind direction: 200
Wind speed (kt): 3
Temperature (F): 70
Nearest airport: INDIANAPOLIS BROOKSIDE
Distance from field: 0.0
Airport elevation: 854

Aircraft

Registration	Make	Model	Damage	FAR part
N2452M	CESSNA	182	SUBS	091

Sequence of events

#	Occurrence	Phase
1	353	Cruise
2	180	Cruise
3	250	Cruise
4	230	Cruise
5	300	Descent

Findings

Finding
24545
22303	cause
24034	cause
24551	cause