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CEN11CA170

2011-01-29 · Meeker, Colorado, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport EEO

Current FAA registration · N7199E

Make / Model
CESSNA 182B
Year of manufacture
1959 · 52 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19590714
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A9A114

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s loss of directional control while taxiing due to his improper seat position.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, he started the airplane’s engine in preparation for a flight to another airport. He intended to make a 90-degree, left turn in order to taxi from the airport parking ramp directly toward the active runway. The pilot applied power and the airplane began to move forward and then began to turn to the left. After the airplane had turned to the desired heading, the pilot pushed right rudder pedal to stop the turn, but the airplane continued to turn to the left. The pilot then pushed the right wheel brakes, but the airplane did not stop. The airplane continued its turning movement to the left and the left wing and propeller impacted a snow bank on the edge of the airport parking ramp causing substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot later said that for this particular flight he probably did not have his seat positioned far forward enough for his legs to activate either the rudder pedals or the brake pedals to the full extent of their travel. According to the pilot, he started the airplane’s engine in preparation for a flight to another airport. He intended to make a 90-degree left turn in order to taxi from the airport parking ramp directly toward the active runway. The pilot applied power and the airplane began to move forward and then began to turn to the left. After the airplane had turned to the desired heading, the pilot pushed right rudder pedal to stop the turn, but the airplane continued to turn to the left. The pilot then pushed the right wheel brakes, but the airplane did not stop. The airplane continued its turn to the left and the left wing and propeller impacted a snow bank on the edge of the airport parking ramp, causing substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot later said that for this particular flight he probably did not have his seat positioned far forward enough for his legs to activate either the rudder pedals or the brake pedals to the full extent of their travel. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Lack of action-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-(general)-(general)-Incorrect use/operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_CEN11CA170.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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