Introduction
On 3 December 2013, a Cessna 182N Skylane, registered SP-OBB, was substantially damaged and destroyed by fire following an accident during the takeoff roll at Mureșeni Aerodrome in Mureș County, Romania. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft was preparing for a positioning flight from Mureșeni to Bucharest Băneasa Airport. After receiving takeoff clearance from Târgu Mureș Tower, the pilot aligned the aircraft on runway 23 and began the takeoff roll. Approximately 50–60 meters past the threshold, the left main landing gear wheel passed over a bump on the grass runway. According to the pilot, the resulting jolt caused his seat to slide backward, preventing him from reaching the rudder pedals and throttle. The aircraft began to veer left, exited the runway after about 130 meters, and traveled approximately 100 meters through the side safety area. It struck a tree with the right wing, then impacted a 1.3-meter-high earth embankment. The impact ruptured fuel tanks, igniting a fire that completely destroyed the aircraft. The pilot evacuated through the right cabin door before the fire intensified.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft, manufactured in 1970 with serial number 182-60465, was a single-engine, high-wing monoplane with fixed tricycle landing gear. It was powered by a Continental O-470R engine and equipped with a McCauley propeller. Total airframe time was 2584:53 hours. The aircraft held an airworthiness certificate and a certificate of release to service (CRS) issued on 30 August 2013. However, its Polish registration had been revoked effective 12 September 2013, and the aircraft was no longer validly registered at the time of the accident. The 56-year-old pilot held a valid CPL license and medical certificate.
Meteorological and Aerodrome Conditions
Meteorological conditions at the time were reported as favorable for flight and did not influence the accident. Mureșeni Aerodrome had a valid aerodrome authorization certificate. The runway was grass, measuring 800 meters long and 50 meters wide, oriented 228°/052°.
Analysis
The pilot stated that after crossing a bump on the runway, his seat slid backward, likely due to a disengaged seat locking mechanism or improper securing. The sudden seat movement rendered the pilot unable to operate the rudder pedals or throttle, leading to loss of directional control. The engine torque contributed to the leftward deviation, which could have been countered with rudder and throttle inputs had the pilot been able to reach the controls. The aircraft continued left of the runway until it collided with obstacles and caught fire.
Conclusions
The accident's determining cause was loss of control during the takeoff roll. A favoring factor was the pilot's seat sliding backward after encountering a runway bump, which prevented him from controlling the aircraft. No injuries occurred, and the pilot escaped unaided.