Pilot Debrief

Cessna 182 near Ionia, MI — 2020-05-22

Final reportCEN20CA193
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Date
2020-05-22
Location
Ionia, MI, USA
Airport
Y70
Aircraft
Cessna 182
Registration
N5179D
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing was the pilot getting his shoe caught in the rudder pedal.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was performing an instrument approach to the runway following a local flight. The airplane was configured with full flaps and the pilot's intention was to perform a three-point landing. The wind was reported as calm; however, the pilot reported seeing smoke that indicated there was a light crosswind from the right. After touching down on the runway the tailwheel began to "shimmy violently," and the airplane began to drift to the left. The pilot applied rudder to get the airplane to track "a straight path" and then turned right to correct back to the runway's centerline. To recorrect to the centerline, the pilot applied full left rudder. At that point, either the pilot's "left shoe caught on something and jammed the pedal, or the left rudder pedal [became] stuck in the full left rudder position." The pilot couldn't move the pedal to maintain directional control and the airplane ground looped causing substantial damage to the right aileron and the right elevator. A postaccident examination showed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents5

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