NTSB Factual Report

On July 20, 2002, at 2040 central daylight time, a Cessna 182, N6321B, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during landing at the Ingleside Airport (MN66), Loretto, Minnesota. Ingleside is a private airport 22.0 nm northwest (302 magnetic) of the Minneapolis VORTAC (MSP). The airplane was approaching to land on runway 8 (1,700 feet x 45 feet, turf) when it developed a high sink rate and impacted the runway. The airplane slid 104 feet before coming to rest. The local flight originated at approximately 0755 cdt from the Ingleside Airport and was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot and two (2) passengers were not injured in the accident.

The airplane was returning after the local flight. The pilot stated that they were "approaching [the] airport from the west; landing east. There are trees located on the east end, so I had (3) notches of flaps on until I clear[ed] the trees and applied full flaps. After clearing the trees and about 20' above ground, I developed a fast sink rate. I fire-walled the airplane but could not recover the sink rate. I hit the ground hard and the right main and nose wheel collapsed."

The FAA inspector on-scene reported high trees and a house located on the west end of the runway.

In a written statement to the local authorities, one of the passengers on-board reported: "All was well the entire flight. . . . We began to land and then it happened. We hit to the right and ended up perpendicular to the runway. . . . He [the pilot] said there was some sort of stall and he tried to pull back up to abort the landing, but was unable to." In addition, the passenger told the FAA inspector on-scene that the pilot had explained to him that due to the short runway, a special technique of "stalling it in" was required.

The Cessna 182A was certified under type certificate 3A13 and includes model years 1957 and 1958. The owner's manual for the 1958 Cessna 182 states that "approach glides should be made at 70~80mph with flaps down." The landing performance chart notes the required distance to clear a fifty (50) foot obstacle as 1,375 feet. This applies to a gross weight of 2,650 lbs. at a 2,500 foot altitude, with 40 degrees of flaps and calm winds on a hard surface runway. The noted approach airspeed over the obstacle is 67 mph (at 2,650 lbs.). The power-off stall speed with 40 degrees of flaps is 56 mph.

The pilot holds a private pilot certificate with an airplane--single-engine land rating. He reported a total time of 95 hours, of which, 50 hours were in the same make and model airplane. He completed a biennial flight review on July 31, 2001, and holds a valid third class medical certificate with no limitations.

The airplane, S/N 34221, had accumulated 4,957 hours total time. Approximately twenty (20) hours had been flown since the last inspection. The date of the most recent annual inspection was not reported. The Continental O-470 engine installed had accumulated approximately 1,400 hours since overhaul. The pilot reported no malfunctions or failures with the airplane/engine either prior to, or at the time of, the accident.

Weather conditions at the scene were reported by the pilot as clear, with light winds (090 degrees at 3 knots) and no turbulence. Conditions at the Crystal Airport (MIC), thirteen (13) nm to the east, at 2053 cdt, were reported by the ASOS as few clouds at 3,000 agl, six (6) sm visibility in haze, and winds from the east (100 degrees) at five (5) knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper flare.