Cessna TR182 N738GX

Summary

On 15 September 2002 at about 16:35 local time, a Cessna TR182 registered N738GX was involved in an accident near Twin Falls, Idaho, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 September 2002 at 16:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Twin Falls, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Joslin Field (TWF)

Coordinates

42.4839, -114.4883

Aircraft

Cessna TR182

Registration

N738GX

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kalispell → Twin Falls

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA02FA175

3 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment and his failure to execute a timely go-around maneuver resutling in the aircraft's impacting a parked fuel truck well clear of the runway safety area. Contributing factors were the strong crosswind/gusty wind conditions and the parked fuel truck.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 2,200 hour pilot of the Cessna TR182 obtained a weather brief from Great Falls FSS during which he was advised of winds at his intermediate fuel stop, Twin Falls, Idaho, from 170 degrees at 16 knots. The pilot contacted Twin Falls tower 13 nautical miles north for landing and was advised that the winds were from 150 degrees magnetic at 20 knots favoring runway 12. Just under 4 minutes later the pilot contacted Twin Falls tower reporting 3 miles out and the controller cleared the aircraft to land on runway 12. The controller provided no wind information nor did the pilot request any wind information. The Airport Facility Directory in effect indicated the airport had an Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) which was keyed to 135.025 megahertz. Tuning this frequency would enable the pilot to receive continuous meteorological information including wind conditions. However, it was not known whether the pilot utilized this capability. The tower controller reported during the aircraft's approach that it drifted left, and the pilot attempted a go around. A fueler also observed the aircraft in a continuous right wing low attitude as it drifted further left until impacting a parked fuel truck positioned 156 feet outside the runway safety area and 231 feet left of the runway centerline. The fuel truck was one of 4 parked in a marshalling area. The ASOS recorded winds at the time of the accident from160 degrees magnetic at 22 knots gusting to 29 knots with a peak wind reported at the time near the accident of 180 degrees at 29 knots. Runway 12 magnetic centerline was measured at 120 degrees and the Cessna TR182 Wind Components Chart indicated a maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity of 18 knots but noted that this was not a limitation. No evidence of mechanical malfunction was noted during the on-site examination and the aircraft's gear were found extended with the flaps extended 5 degrees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.