Accident Overview
On July 26, 2013, at about 1910 central daylight time, a Cessna 182S airplane, registration N820HP, impacted terrain while maneuvering near Tecumseh, Oklahoma. A postimpact fire ensued. The pilot, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) trooper, sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged.
Flight Details
The airplane was registered to and operated by the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a public use flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. It originated from the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport (OUN) in Norman, Oklahoma, about 1813.
Sequence of Events
The pilot was dispatched to assist OHP troopers and a local police department in pursuing an individual involved in a traffic accident. The driver had fled the scene and was believed to be hiding in a wooded area. The pilot arrived on-scene about 15 minutes after departure and established radio contact with an OHP trooper on the ground, informing him that the suspect had been located. However, that trooper was not positioned near the police officers, and the pilot could not contact the officers directly by radio.
Observing the officers walking in the wrong direction, the pilot overflew them and pointed toward the driver's location. As the officers approached, they looked up at the airplane for guidance. The pilot then reduced engine power and entered a slow descending turn over the driver's location. At that time, the police officers began walking into the adjacent wooded area toward the individual.
Stall and Impact
The pilot reported that about the same time, the airplane's aerodynamic stall warning sounded. He stated that the left wing subsequently "stalled hard," causing the nose to pitch down and the airplane to rotate left. He responded by applying wings-level aileron input and increasing to full engine power. He maintained directional control with rudder input and prevented a spin but could not fully recover from the stall, leading to impact with terrain.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, assisted by the airplane manufacturer, found no preimpact failure or malfunction. Primary flight control continuity was confirmed from cockpit controls to each control surface. The flap actuators indicated a 30-degree flap deflection. The left wing fuel tank contained about 7 gallons of fluid consistent with 100 low-lead aviation fuel. The right wing fuel tank was consumed by the postimpact fire.
Additional Details
FAA records showed that a Horton STOL (short takeoff and landing) kit was installed on the accident airplane in March 2002. Drooped wing leading edges were observed at the accident site.