Sunday, September 02, 2012

Cessna 182P Skylane, N5981J: Accident occurred September 02, 2012 in Newberry, Michigan

NTSB Identification: CEN12TA604 
 14 CFR Public Use
Accident occurred Sunday, September 02, 2012 in Newberry, MI
Probable Cause Approval Date: 01/22/2013
Aircraft: CESSNA 182P, registration: N5981J
Injuries: 1 Serious.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this public aircraft accident report.

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.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
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.

On September 2, 2012, at 1415 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N5981J, owned and operated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, collided with the terrain while landing at the Luce County Airport (KERY), Newberry, Michigan. The airline transport rated pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged by impact and a postimpact fire. The public use flight was being operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from KERY at 1257.

The pilot reported he was on a routine fire detection mission and was about 10 to 12 miles from the airport when he detected a “hot electrical” odor. He stated that everything was operating normally with the airplane at the time, but he was concerned enough that he radioed the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and told them he was going to return to KERY.

The pilot reported he entered the traffic pattern for runway 11 at KERY and set up for a stabilized approach to the runway. He reported the air was a little choppy and there was some convective turbulence in the area. While on final approach at a distance of 400 to 500 feet from the approach end of the runway, a large puff of smoke was rapidly emitted from under the right side of the instrument panel under the circuit breaker panel. This momentarily distracted him. At almost the same time, the airplane encountered convective turbulence that was severe enough that he hit his head on the ceiling and everything that was on the seats was thrown forward. He stated the turbulence extended his distraction. When he looked forward and turned his attention back to the airplane, the nose was down and all he could see was grass out of the windscreen. The airplane immediately hit the ground.

The nose gear broke off upon impact and the airplane slid forward up onto the runway. It continued to slide about 200 feet before stopping. By the time the airplane came to a stop, there were flames coming up into the cockpit. He suspected the flames were at least in part from damage sustained in the impact.

The pilot exited the airplane at which time he noticed his legs were burned. The airplane continued to burn. The fuselage aft of the firewall back to the empennage and the inboard section of both wings was consumed by fire. The empennage was present, but it sustained a substantial amount of damage from the fire. Due to the amount of fire damage, the cause of the electrical smell and subsequent smoke could not be determined.


NTSB Identification: CEN12TA604
14 CFR Public Use
Accident occurred Sunday, September 02, 2012 in Newberry, MI
Aircraft: CESSNA 182P, registration: N5981J
Injuries: 1 Serious.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.


On September 2, 2012, at 1245 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N5981J, owned and operated by the Michigan Department of Natural Recourses, collided with the terrain while landing at the Luce County Airport (KERY), Newberry, Michigan. The airline transport rated pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged by a post impact fire. The public flight was being operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from KERY at 1115.

The pilot reported he was on a routine fire detection mission and was about 10 to 12 miles from the airport when he detected a “hot electrical” odor. He stated that everything was operating normally with the airplane at the time, but he was concerned enough that he radioed the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and told them he was going to return to KERY.

The pilot reported he entered the traffic pattern for runway 11 at KERY and set up for a stabilized approach to the runway. He reported the air was a little choppy and there was some convective turbulence in the area. While on final approach at a distance of 400 to 500 feet from the approach end of the runway, a large puff of smoke was rapidly emitted from under the right side of the instrument paned near the circuit breaker panel. This momentarily distracted him. At almost the same time, the airplane hit turbulence that was severe enough that he hit his head on the ceiling and everything that was on the seats was thrown forward. He stated the turbulence extended his distraction.

When he looked forward and turned his attention back to the airplane, the nose was down and all he could see was grass out of the windscreen. The airplane immediately hit the ground.

The nose gear broke off and the airplane slid forward up onto the runway. It continued to slide about 200 feet before it stopped. By time the airplane came to a stop, there were flames coming up into the cockpit. He suspected the flames were at least in part from damage sustained in the impact.

The pilot exited the airplane at which time he noticed his legs were burned. The airplane continued to burn. The only portions of the airplane remaining were forward of the firewall, the wings from the fuel caps outboard, and a portion of the empennage.


IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 5981J        Make/Model: C182      Description: 182, Skylane
  Date: 09/02/2012     Time: 1816

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Serious     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: NEWBERRY   State: MI   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, NEWBERRY, MI

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   1     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    


OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: GRAND RAPIDS, MI  (GL09)              Entry date: 09/04/2012 
 
 http://registry.faa.gov/N5981J

 
Courtesy Photo | Michigan DNR

June 2, 2012:  How Duck Lake Fire was discovered: Michigan DNR pilot spots a curl of smoke

September 2, 2012:   LUCE CO. -- A single engine plane crashed at the Luce County Airport this afternoon, police said.
 

The pilot, Dean Minett, 61, of Newberry, was taken to Helen Joy Hospital for burns to his legs and arms. Troopers from the Michigan State Police Sault Ste. Marie Post arrived on scene around 2:15 p.m. 

To find the plane on the west of the runway fully engulfed in flames. Minett told police he smelled smoke in the cockpit and tried to turn around to land but was distracted by smoke filling up the cockpit and crashed.

The plane was owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. It was being flown for aerial fire assistance. The plane is a total loss.

The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash. Michigan State Police was assisted on scene by the Luce County Airport staff, the Luce County Emergency Management Director, Luce County EMS, the Michigan DNR, and the Newberry Fire Department.

Read more:     http://www.uppermichiganssource.com
 

 LUCE COUNTY -- A Newberry man is lucky to be a live, after he crashed his plane and was able to walk away from the burning wreckage on Sunday. 

 Michigan State Police say they were called to the Luce County Airport at around 2:15pm Sunday afternoon on reports of a plane crash. When they got there, they saw a single engine plane on the west end of the runway fully engulfed in flames.

Fortunately the pilot, 61 year-old Dean Minett was able to walk away from the crash. He was taken to the hospital to be treated for some burns to his arms and legs.

Minett says during his flight, the cockpit of the plane filled with smoke, distracting him and caused him to crash.

The plane was owned by the Michigan DNR and was being flown for aerial fire assistance. The plane was a total loss.

The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash.


Read more:  http://www.upnorthlive.com

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