Cessna 182S accident near West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, April 6, 2005
On April 6, 2005 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Cessna 182S, registered N9521F, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Mifflin, Pennsylvania (Allegheny County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff. A factor in this accident was the gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 2005 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- West Mifflin, Pennsylvania · Allegheny County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182S · all 182Ss on the register
- Registration
- N9521F · no longer on the register · serial 18280233
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was departing from runway 28, a 6,501-foot long, 150-foot wide, asphalt runway. The pilot reported that the initial takeoff roll was normal; however, the yoke felt extremely heavy and stiff. The airplane lifted off the runway, but it then bounced and contacted the runway in a nose down position. The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane slid to a stop. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. The elevator trim cable chain was separated; however, the trim cable was properly oriented and the trim tab moved appropriately when the respective trim cable was pulled by hand. Due to impact damage, and the separated trim cable chain, the airplane's pitch trim setting during the takeoff could not be confirmed. The pilot reported 190 hours of total flight experience, which included 27 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. Winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 260 degrees at 8 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 190 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 104 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,382 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 1, 2005; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AGC West Mifflin PA at 8:08 pm
- Destination: AGC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 6,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from AGC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.