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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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February 8, 1982 · Cessna 182P · N9479M

Nashville, TN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 8, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Nashville, TN
Aircraft
Cessna 182P
Tail Number
N9479M
Operator
M P Burnes
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL82FKW04

After entering a long final approach for landing, the engine lost power. While attempting to restart the engine, the pilot noted that he had not previously turned on the carburetor heat. He was unable to start the engine and maneuvered the plane to land in a parking lot. Before touchdown, the plane struck the tops of trees as the pilot was avoiding powerlines by crossing below. He was unable to stop on the parking lot. The plane struck trees and a fence on the far side of the lot. An investigation revealed that the temperature and dew point at 2000 ft were about 32 degrees. Above and below that altitude, the temperature increased to about 42 to 45 degrees. During an operational check of the engine, it would not start until the carburetor was drained to check for water. About 1 1/2 oz of an unknown substance, heavier than fuel, was drained from the carburetor. The plane had been flown 5.3 hrs since the last refueling on 11/8/81. Nearly one quart of water was drained during the preflight.

Full Narrative

AFTER ENTERING A LONG FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY TURNED ON THE CARBURETOR HEAT. HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE AND MANEUVERED THE PLANE TO LAND IN A PARKING LOT. BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE PLANE STRUCK THE TOPS OF TREES AS THE PILOT WAS AVOIDING POWERLINES BY CROSSING BELOW. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE PARKING LOT. THE PLANE STRUCK TREES AND A FENCE ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE LOT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT AT 2000 FT WERE ABOUT 32 DEGREES. ABOVE AND BELOW THAT ALTITUDE, THE TEMPERATURE INCREASED TO ABOUT 42 TO 45 DEGREES. DURING AN OPERATIONAL CHECK OF THE ENGINE, IT WOULD NOT START UNTIL THE CARBURETOR WAS DRAINED TO CHECK FOR WATER. ABOUT 1 1/2 OZ OF AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE, HEAVIER THEN FUEL, WAS DRAINED FROM THE CARBURETOR. THE PLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN 5.3 HRS SINCE THE LAST REFUELING ON 11/8/81. NEARLY ONE QUART OF WATER WAS DRAINED DURING THE PREFLIGHT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182P
Tail NumberN9479M
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorM P Burnes
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470 · Reciprocating · 265
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 47 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point11 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data