Event CEN15LA109

Factual narrative

On January 15, 2015, about 1002 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182R, single engine airplane N9611H, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain during initial climb from Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF), Santa Fe, New Mexico. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. At the time of the accident the airplane was departing SAF and was destined for Cedar City Regional Airport (CDS), Cedar City, Utah. During takeoff with zero flaps the pilot accelerated to about 60 knots and the airplane lifted off. About 50 to 100 feet above ground level the airplane entered an uncommanded steep bank to the left and the pilot used aileron and rudder to briefly regain control before the airplane again banked hard to the left pitched down and impacted terrain. The airplane came to rest upright about 500 feet left of the runway and about 3,000 feet from the start of the takeoff. There was no postimpact fuel spill and both occupants exited without assistance. Witnesses at the airport reported that all aircraft that had been parked overnight on the ramp had frost or ice on them. They estimated the thickness of the frost or ice as about 1/8 inch or less. Witnesses also reported that before departing the pilot used a credit card to remove frost or ice from only the windshield, however he did not remove any of the frost or ice from the wings or tail or fuselage of his airplane. Photographs of the airplane taken about 45 minutes after the accident, showed rough mixed rime ice adhering to the top of the wing, and on the upper part of the metal portions of the leading edges of the wing. The thickest rough portions of the ice appeared to be about 1/8 inch to as much as 1/4 inch thick. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination of the airplane showed substantial damage to the left aileron, the firewall, and the lower forward fuselage. The nose gear attach bracket had damage that sheared the rivets off the firewall and wrinkled the firewall. At 0953 the automated weather observing system at SAF, reported wind from 360 degrees at 11 knots, visibility of 10 miles, clear of clouds, temperature 0 degrees Celsius (C), dew point minus 3 degrees C, with an altimeter setting of 30.42 inches of Mercury. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) and FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) for the Cessna 182R states that the pilot should lift the nose wheel at 50 knots and, for a takeoff with zero flaps, climb out at 80 knots. The POH/AFM also states that the power off stall speed at a maximum gross weight of 3,100 pounds with zero flaps is about 50 knots. 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.527 (a) states: "No pilot may take off an airplane that has frost, ice, or snow adhering to any… wing". FAA 00-6A - Aviation Weather for Pilots and Flight Operations Personnel, Chapter 10 states: Aircraft icing is one of the major weather hazards to aviation (and) is a cumulative hazard. It reduces aircraft efficiency by increasing weight, reducing lift, decreasing thrust, and increasing drag … each effect tends to either slow the aircraft or force it downward (and) that even a small amount of frost … may prevent an aircraft from becoming airborne at normal takeoff speed (or that) after becoming airborne, could have insufficient margin of airspeed above stall so that moderate gusts or turning flight could produce incipient or complete stalling". The private pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. The pilot reported that, during takeoff with 0 flaps, he accelerated the airplane to about 60 knots and that it subsequently lifted off. About 50 to 100 ft above ground level, the airplane entered an uncommanded steep left bank; the pilot used aileron and rudder inputs and briefly regained control of the airplane before it again banked hard left, pitched down, and impacted terrain. The airplane came to rest upright about 500 ft left of the runway and about 3,000 ft from the beginning of the takeoff roll. The uncommanded bank and pitch down is indicative of an aerodynamic stall. A witness at the airport reported that all of the aircraft, which included the accident airplane, that had been parked overnight on the ramp had frost or ice on them. He added that, before departure, the pilot did not remove any of the frost or ice from the airplane's wings, tail, or fuselage. Photographs of the airplane taken about 45 minutes after the accident showed 1/8- to 1/4-inch-thick rough, mixed rime ice adhering to the wing. The pilot's failure to remove the ice from the airplane's surfaces before departure degraded its takeoff performance and prevented it from attaining sufficient speed to remain airborne and resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Lack of action-Pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-Climb capability-Attain/maintain not possible - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-Conducive to structural icing-Decision related to condition - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Attain/maintain not possible - C