NTSB Factual Report

On August 31, 2002, at 1055 central daylight time, a Cessna 182-Q single-engine airplane, N96725, was substantially damaged following a hard landing at the False River Air Park Airport near New Roads, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to and operated by the Civil Air Patrol, Louisiana Wing. The commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 public use flight. The orientation flight originated from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at 1015.

According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the 987-hour pilot reported that after completing two touch and go landings, the third landing would be a short field landing followed by a full stop. The pilot stated they were in a stable approach for Runway 36. Runway 36 was 5,002 feet long by 75 feet wide, and had an asphalt surface. As the airplane cleared the runway approach lights, the pilot verified the flaps were full down, and the airspeed was 60 knots, as stated in the pilot operating handbook (POH). The airplane was inside the last light of the approach light system (ALS), between 50 and 100 feet AGL, when she heard the stall warning horn, and the airplane began to rapidly lose altitude. The pilot applied power; however, the airplane continued to lose altitude. The airplane touched down "hard" 40 feet short of the runway, and continued to roll for approximately 1,000 feet before coming to a stop.

During the rollout, the pilot reported that the nose dropped abnormally low. The pilot instructed the passengers to unbuckle their seat belts and exit the aircraft as soon as it stopped. Once the airplane came to a stop, the pilot pulled the mixture, prop control, and throttle. She called "dead on the runway" on the Unicom frequency and asked someone to contact Baton Rouge Approach Control. The pilot dialed 7700 into the transponder, but then realized there was a heavy fuel leak. The pilot instructed the passengers to clear the runway, and she turned the master switch off. The pilot could not open the left door, so she evacuated the airplane through the right door in the back seat area. The airplane was pushed down the runway and onto the ramp. The emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was deactivated and the fuel leak was stopped.

Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed structural damage to the nose landing gear, propeller, and engine firewall. A fuel line was ruptured, and the elevator cable was found separated.

As a result of this accident, the pilot has recommended the installation of an automated weather observing station (AWOS)/automated surface observing station (ASOS) at False River Air Park.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in a stall.