Cessna R182 N6208T

Summary

On 17 September 2020 at about 23:30 local time, a Cessna R182 registered N6208T was involved in an accident near Marksville, Louisiana, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 September 2020 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Marksville, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Marksville Muni (MKV)

Coordinates

31.0947, -92.0692

Aircraft

Cessna R182

Registration

N6208T

Category

Airplane

Year built

1983

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Lafayette

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20CA411

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, during which he failed to ensure the landing gear handle in the “down” position which resulted in the landing gear retracting during takeoff, a loss of directional control, and a runway excursion.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane, and that during the takeoff roll, he pulled the yoke back to stop the nosewheel from shimmying, added power, checked the engine performance, and then added more power. The airplane’s nose dropped slightly, and he added more power. Subsequently, the nose dropped further and contacted the ground. The pilot reduced engine power, and the airplane then skidded down the runway and exited onto grass, which resulted in the right forward fuselage, right outboard wing, and right horizontal stabilizer and elevator sustaining substantial damage. One of the first steps of the Preflight Checklist is “Landing Gear Lever – Gear Down.” The pilot reported that he liked “to touch each item” as he called it out but that he “did not do that on this phase of flight.” According to the mechanic who recovered the airplane, he found the landing gear “handle” in the “up” position and the nose landing gear and right main landing gear retracted. The mechanic was able to extend the gear using the emergency hand pump. He then turned on the master switch and saw a green gear position light, indicating that all three landing gear were down and locked. The mechanic added that he did not see anything that would have caused the gear to collapse.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.