N5746B

On June 17, 2000, about 1630 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 182, N5746B, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Kindelberger Landing Strip (6G2), Freedom, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot and four parachute jumpers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the commercial parachute drop conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that he was flying parachute jumpers in the accident airplane. Prior to the day of the accident, he had never flown out of 6G2. He added that other pilots were having no difficulty using the field that day. The pilot was told by the owner of the operation to stay to the left side of the runway because there were mud patches on the right side.

On his second flight of the day, during takeoff, the left landing gear came in contact with a "soft spot" in the turf and the airplane veered left. The pilot was unable to correct the left turn with right rudder. The left wing struck a tree, and the airplane came to rest in a fence off the left side of the runway.

The runway was 1,515 feet long, 110 feet wide, and consisted of soft turf.

The pilot submitted weight and balance information for the accident flight. According to his data, the airplane's empty weight was 1,699 pounds. The pilot stated that the airplane weighed 2,850 pounds at takeoff, which was approximately 30 pounds under the maximum allowable gross takeoff weight of 2,880 pounds.

Review of a 1956 Cessna 182 Owner's Manual revealed that the maximum allowable gross takeoff weight of the airplane was 2,550 pounds.

When asked about the discrepancy, the pilot stated that he did not use the Owner's Manual. He stated that on June 28, 1993, an avionics repair facility removed and installed radio equipment. After completing the work, the facility provided updated weight and balance data to be kept in the airplane.

Review of the data revealed that the facility calculated the empty weight of the airplane as 2,064.90 pounds. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) database, and inspector, the basic empty weight of the airplane was 1,699 pounds. The inspector stated that the facility was no longer in business, and he was unable to obtain additional data from the facility.

The inspector added that after completing the work, the facility fueled the airplane and weighed it. The facility was supposed to subtract the weight of the fuel to calculate the empty weight. However, the facility added the weight of the fuel to the calculations. Although the inspector and pilot knew about the error in empty weight, they were not aware of the additional error regarding the maximum allowable gross takeoff weight.

Federal Aviation Regulation 14 CFR 91.3(a) stated:

"The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft."

Review of the Cessna Owner's Manual revealed that approximately 1,281 feet were required to takeoff over a 50-foot obstacle at 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and a 2,500-foot density altitude. However, the calculations assumed a maximum takeoff weight of 2,550 pounds, and takeoff from a hard surface runway.

Examination of the wreckage by the inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.