NTSB Identification: ERA15FA204
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident
occurred
Sunday, May 03, 2015
in
Mulberry, TN
Aircraft:
CESSNA 182P, registration:
N6579M
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
Personnel based at Winchester Airport reported seeing the airplane depart around 1430. Radar coverage for the accident area was weak; however, a target was observed traveling westbound from the airport toward the location of where the accident occurred. The target was first observed at 1430 at an altitude of 3,300 feet about 11 miles west of the airport. The target proceeded west-northwest until the data stopped about 1.9 miles east of the accident site at 1433. At that time, the target was at an altitude of 2,895 feet.
The airplane collided with trees and terrain on a cattle farm. There were no witnesses to the accident and the airplane wreckage was located the flowing morning by a ranch-hand at 0822.
An on-scene examination was conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-in-Charge (NTSB IIC) on May 5, 2015. The airplane collided with a stand of 70-foot-tall hackberry trees with its right wing tip before it impacted the ground, another stand of hackberry trees and four cows. The airplane then traveled a short distance and came to rest in a cattle pond. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site and there was no evidence of in-flight or post-impact fire.
Both wings sustained extensive impact damage and separated from the airframe in two sections. These sections of the wings came to rest near the base of the second stand of hackberry trees. This was also the area where the cattle were located. The right wing tip exhibited more aft crushing to the leading edge than the left wing.
The main wreckage, which consisted of the cockpit, fuselage, empennage and tail control surfaces came to rest in the shallow cattle pond. The engine had separated from the firewall. The main wreckage sustained extensive impact damage.
The cattle pond was drained and the wreckage was removed and taken to a salvage facility where a layout examination was conducted on May 6, 2015.
Examination of the airplane confirmed flight control continuity for all major flight control surfaces from the control surface to the cockpit. The elevator trim tab actuator was overextended from impact forces and the flap actuator was in the fully retracted position. Both fuel caps for each wing were in place and secure to their respective fuel ports. Numerous breaks in the fuel system between the engine and fuel tanks were observed due to impact. The fuel selector was in the "both" position. The gascolator remained attached to the firewall and was disassembled. The bowl had some water and sediment from the cattle pond and the fuel screen was absent of debris.
No mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation at the time of the accident.
The engine sustained impact damage, with more of the damage being concentrated on the right side. The right side cylinders were crushed and the push rods and rocker arms were distorted. As a result, the engine could not be rotated more than 45 degrees. However, when the engine was rotated, continuity to the accessory gears was observed. The oil sump was pushed up into the bottom of the engine. It was removed so the camshaft could be exposed. The camshaft was intact and no mechanical anomalies were noted. Both magnetos had separated from the accessory case. They were water-soaked and spark could not be produced at the terminals; however, both units were disassembled and no mechanical anomalies were noted. The oil filter remained attached to the engine. It was removed and opened to expose the filter. The filter was absent of any debris.
The propeller governor also remained on the engine. It was removed and disassembled. No anomalies were noted.
The spark plugs were removed and exhibited normal wear.
Examination of the carburetor revealed the throttle/mixture lever and actuator pump moved freely.
The 2-bladed propeller had separated from the engine and was found near the wing sections. Both blades were loose in the hub. One blade exhibited leading edge and front face gouging and scoring. The blade was bent aft and was curled at the tip. There were nicks in the trailing edge as well. The second blade exhibited front-face and leading edge polishing, and was bent aft. A section of the blade-tip was missing.
No mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine that would have precluded normal operation at the time of the accident.
A handheld GPS was located in the wreckage and was sent to the NTSB Recorder Laboratory in Washington DC for further evaluation.
The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land, and instrument airplane. Her last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Third Class medical was issued on August 6, 2012, with no limitations. At that time, she reported a total of 200 flight hours.
Weather at Winchester Municipal Airport, at 1435, was reported as wind from 210 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 26 degrees Celsius, dewpoint 7 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.13 inches of Hg.
This
is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors.
Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has
been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this
investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work
without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to
prepare this aircraft accident report.