Gila Bend Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gila Bend, Arizona 85337
Wednesday, October 22, 1986 14:45 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY DURING TAKEOFF GROUND RUN AND NOSED OVER. THE PLT INIDCATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF HIS SEAT SLID REARWARD AND HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE THROTTLE OR THE RUDDER PEDALS. THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RWY TO THE LEFT INTO VEGETATED DESERT TERRAIN. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT HARDWARE USED TO ASSEMBLE THE FORE-AFT SEAT ADJUSTMENT ASSEMBLY WAS INCORRECT. ONE COTTER PIN WAS INSTALLED INSTEAD OF A CLEVIS PIN WITH A SMALL COTTER PIN IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FORE-AFT SEAT ADJUSTMENT LOCKING PIN. ONE COTTER PIN WAS ALSO INSTALLED INSTEAD OF A ROLL-PIN ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SAME LOCKING PIN. THE INSTALLATION OF THE COTTER PINS ALLOWED TOO MUCH PLAY CAUSING THE FORE-AFT SEAT ADJUSTMENT LOCKING PIN NOT TO ENGAGE THE SEAT RAIL PROPERLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/22/1986
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City GILA BEND
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85337
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GILA BEND
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GBN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 778
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 182
Weather Observation Facility ID GBN
Elevation of weather observation facility 858
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2221
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 22 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1615
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 32795
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N91797
NTSB Number LAX87LA024
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182M
Aircraft Series Identifier 182M
Aircraft Serial Number 18259914
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 22 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 73
Airframe Hours 4071
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM D. SMITH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3670 OLD WHEELING ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ZANESVILLE
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43701
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GBN
Departure City GILA BEND
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1445
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SDM
Destination City SAN DIEGO
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 3800
Runway Width 76
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --