Low-Altitude Maneuvering · NTSB CEN16FA169
CESSNA 182L — Carrollton, OH
| Date | April 24, 2016 |
| Location | Carrollton, OH |
| Aircraft | CESSNA 182L |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Maneuvering Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 83 |
| Pilot total time | 2,800 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | 2,000 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined - C
What happened
The pilot was conducting a personal flight under day visual meteorological conditions. Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control (ATC) radar data depicted the airplane about 0.5 mile northwest of the departure airport. It proceeded on a northeasterly course toward the destination airport and subsequently turned to the southeast before becoming established on a southwesterly course. After proceeding about 3 miles, the airplane reversed to a northwesterly course, and ultimately turned to a southwesterly course. The airplane impacted a wooded ravine about 0.5 mile south of the final radar data point. Variations in the airplane's groundspeed and altitude during the maneuvers was consistent with controlled and powered flight. There were no witnesses to the accident. The site was ultimately located about 5 days after the accident following a ground search based, in part, on ATC radar data. An examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. Toxicology testing found no drugs, and the presence of ethanol in urine but not blood suggests that the ethanol was from sources other than ingestion.