Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 182 near Charlevoix, MI — 2025-06-02

Final reportCEN25LA195
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Date
2025-06-02
Location
Charlevoix, MI, USA
Airport
CVX
Aircraft
CESSNA 182
Registration
N71149
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain pitch control during the takeoff that resulted in multiple bounces and substantial damage to the fuselage.

NTSB narrative

The purpose of the training flight was for the pilot, who was employed by the skydiving operator, to become familiar with the airplane, as he had never flown it before. During the takeoff, a witness observed the airplane bounce multiple times. During the second bounce, the witness heard a loud noise, and during the third and final bounce, the witness heard an even louder noise. The witness surmised that the third bounce was “so violent” that he thought the airplane as going to become inverted. The airplane became airborne and departed, while remaining in the traffic pattern. During the no flap landing, the pilot reported that as he began pulling back on the yoke to flare, he noticed that the nose of the airplane was not pitching up. The airplane landed on the nose landing gear, which sustained a flat tire. The airplane came to rest upright on the right side of the runway and the pilot was able to egress without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the engine compartment and to the cockpit floor. Postaccident examination of the flight control system found an excessive amount of slack in the elevator control cables due to the fuselage damage sustained from the multiple bounces that occurred during the takeoff. The substantial damage resulted in excessive slack to the elevator control cables that resulted in the pilot not having adequate pitch control during the landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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