Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CHI07LA204

Edgerton, WI, USA

Aircraft #1

N2579R

Cessna 182K

Analysis

The Cessna 182 airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing following a loss of electrical power and reported loss of engine power during cruise. The pilot's accident report, in part, stated, "Coming in at about 140 at the threshold of 36 I had to force it to the ground causing it to porpoise when I got all landing gear on turf I was still going fast and was at the end of the runway. With a road and a house just a few hundred feet ahead I decided to turn into the corn on my left to stop." A post accident examination of the wreckage revealed a loose alternator wire. The engine was subsequently started and ran. The approach speed with no flaps for the 182K is 80 to 90 MPH.

Factual Information

On July 9, 2007, about 1230 central daylight time, a Cessna 182K, N2579R, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing at the Jana Airport, near Edgerton, Wisconsin, following a loss of electrical power and reported loss of engine power during cruise. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and one passenger sustained no injuries. The pilot reported that one passenger sustained minor injury. The flight originated from the Merrill Municipal Airport, near Merrill, Wisconsin, about 1100 and was destined for the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport, near Janesville, Wisconsin. The pilot's accident report, in part, stated: [Twenty miles northwest] of Janesville I reported my position with information Zulu to Janesville approach. At that time my radios went dead along with all electrical so I decided to divert to Fort Atkinson (61C) a non towered paved strip. Southwest of Edgerton my engine failed so I found Jana (58C) on my Garmin 296 hand held GPS for an emergency landing. With no electric I could not use flaps and was at 800 ft on short final for [runway] 36 - a 2,300 ft grass strip. Coming in at about 140 at the threshold of 36 I had to force it to the ground causing it to porpoise when I got all landing gear on turf I was still going fast and was at the end of the runway. With a road and a house just a few hundred feet ahead I decided to turn into the corn on my left to stop. Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors examined the wreckage. A loose alternator wire was found. The engine was subsequently started on-scene and ran. The approach speed with no flaps for the 182K is 80 to 90 MPH.

Probable Cause and Findings

The reported non-mechanical loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during cruise and the excessive airspeed the pilot maintained during the approach for the forced landing. Factors were the loss of electrical power during cruise and the high vegetation that was impacted during the forced landing.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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