Hendersonville Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hendersonville, North Carolina 28739
Friday, October 19, 2007 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The Cessna 182 took off "right at max gross weight," accelerated, but did not climb. The pilot maneuvered around trees immediately after takeoff, but the airplane eventually struck trees in its path. The pilot reported that the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies during run-up and the takeoff. Weight and balance calculations after the accident revealed that with 3 adult males, 3 golf bags, luggage, and full fuel tanks, the airplane's estimated weight was 3,135 pound. The manufacturer's maximum allowable gross weight was 2,950 pounds. The runway was 3,075 feet long, at 2,084 feet elevation, and the density altitude computed for the departure airport at the time of the accident was 3,571 feet. The pilot reported that he did not conduct weight and balance calculations "with a pencil and paper" prior to departure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to calculate weight and balance prior to departure, which resulted in departure above the maximum allowable gross weight, and the airplane's inability to climb. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/19/2007
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Hendersonville
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28739
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 351816N
Event Location Longitude 0822535W
Event Location Airport Hendersonville
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0A7
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2084
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23473
NTSB Notification Source SROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 30 2008 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1437S
NTSB Number NYC08CA016
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18264985
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name William R. Jackson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Stuart
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 0A7
Departure City Hendersonville
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SUA
Destination City STUART
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 15 2008 10:50AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 3075
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --