Accident Details
On January 15, 2015, about 1002 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182R single-engine airplane, registration N9611H, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain during initial climb from Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was departing SAF and destined for Cedar City Regional Airport (CDS), Cedar City, Utah.
During takeoff with zero flaps, the pilot accelerated to about 60 knots and the airplane lifted off. About 50 to 100 feet above ground level, the airplane entered an uncommanded steep bank to the left. The pilot used aileron and rudder to briefly regain control before the airplane again banked hard to the left, pitched down, and impacted terrain. The airplane came to rest upright about 500 feet left of the runway and about 3,000 feet from the start of the takeoff. There was no postimpact fuel spill, and both occupants exited without assistance.
Frost and Ice Observations
Witnesses at the airport reported that all aircraft parked overnight on the ramp had frost or ice on them, with thickness estimated at about 1/8 inch or less. Witnesses also reported that before departing, the pilot used a credit card to remove frost or ice only from the windshield, but did not remove any from the wings, tail, or fuselage.
Photographs of the airplane taken about 45 minutes after the accident showed rough mixed rime ice adhering to the top of the wing and on the upper part of the metal portions of the wing leading edges. The thickest rough portions of the ice appeared to be about 1/8 inch to as much as 1/4 inch thick.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the left aileron, the firewall, and the lower forward fuselage. The nose gear attach bracket had damage that sheared rivets off the firewall and wrinkled the firewall.
At 0953, the automated weather observing system at SAF reported wind from 360 degrees at 11 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear of clouds, temperature 0 degrees Celsius, dew point minus 3 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.42 inches of mercury.
Regulatory and Performance References
The Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) and FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) for the Cessna 182R state that the pilot should lift the nose wheel at 50 knots and, for takeoff with zero flaps, climb out at 80 knots. The POH/AFM also states that the power-off stall speed at maximum gross weight of 3,100 pounds with zero flaps is about 50 knots.
14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.527(a) states: "No pilot may take off an airplane that has frost, ice, or snow adhering to any… wing."
FAA 00-6A - Aviation Weather for Pilots and Flight Operations Personnel, Chapter 10, states that aircraft icing is a major weather hazard and a cumulative hazard, reducing aircraft efficiency by increasing weight, reducing lift, decreasing thrust, and increasing drag. It notes that even a small amount of frost may prevent an aircraft from becoming airborne at normal takeoff speed or, after becoming airborne, could result in insufficient margin of airspeed above stall so that moderate gusts or turning flight could produce incipient or complete stalling.