Cessna 182P N5981J

Summary

On 2 September 2012 at about 18:15 local time, a Cessna 182P registered N5981J, operated by Michigan Department of Natural Resources, was involved in an accident near Newberry, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 September 2012 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Newberry, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Luce County Airport (KERY)

Coordinates

46.3108, -85.4569

Aircraft

Cessna 182P

Registration

N5981J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Newberry → Newberry

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12TA604

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane due to distraction from a combination of smoke in the cockpit and a sudden turbulence encounter while on short final approach. The cause of the cockpit smoke could not be determined due to the extensive damage sustained by the airplane during the postimpact fire.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot detected a “hot electrical” odor during the local flight and decided to return to the airport. While on short final, a large puff of smoke was emitted from under the right side of the instrument panel and distracted the pilot. About the same time, the airplane encountered convective turbulence so severe that the pilot hit his head on the ceiling and everything that was on the seats was thrown forward. The pilot stated that he was further distracted by the turbulence encounter, and the airplane entered a nose down attitude and impacted the terrain before the pilot could take remedial action. The airplane slid about 200 feet before coming to a stop and a postimpact fire ensued. The cause of the electrical smell and smoke could not be determined as the fuselage was consumed by the postimpact fire, which likely resulted from fuel lines being ruptured during the impact.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.