# Accident 20260526007509A: Cessna R182, Fitchburg, MA, May 26, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 26, 2026, 12:35 local time
- Place: Fitchburg, MA
- Airport: Fitchburg Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.5549° N, 71.7605° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5549&lon=-71.7605&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6287T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6287T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna R182 (registry code 2072734, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R182
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 700 total, 220 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA228) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260526007509A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON 26 MAY 2026, AT 1335 P.M. EDT, THE BRADLEY FSDO RECEIVED NOTICE REGARDING A CESSNA R182 LANDED ON RUNWAY 32 AND EXPERIENCED A NOSE GEAR COLLAPSE. 3 PERSONS ON BOARD WITH NO INJURIES REPORTED. AIRCRAFT DAMAGE WAS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. THE IIC ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AT FITCHBURG AIRPORT (KFIT) AT 10:00 AM LOCAL TIME ON 28 MAY 2026. AIRPORT MANAGMENT PROVIDED VIDEO FOOTAGE OF AIRCRAFT APPROACHING RUNWAY 32 FOR LANDING.THE VIDEO REVEALED HARD IMPACT OF THE AIRCRAFT ON TOUCHDOWN. DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT CONSISTED OF ALL THREE PROPELLER BLADE TIPS BENT, BOTTOM ENGINE COWLING, RIGHT AND LEFT NOSE GEAR DOORS DAMAGED. HIDDEN DAMAGE INSPECTION REVEALED FIREWALL DAMAGE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTER LINE. NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS DOING PATTERN WORK AND THAT THIS WAS THE PILOT'S 3RD LANDING THAT DAY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA26LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA228), May 26, 2026: Cessna R182 (N6287T), Fitchburg, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

## Other reports on N6287T (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20060121001079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060121001079A), Jan 21, 2006: Cessna R182 (N6287T), Bedford, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot had hard landing which was reported to the FAA on 1/30/06 when the full extend of damage was discovered. Pilot had hard landing damaging the nose…
- [Incident 20051027026209I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051027026209I), Oct 27, 2005: Cessna R182 (N6287T), Fitchburg, MA, Minor damage. (-23) While performing an annual standardization flight check for the civil air patrol, the (PIC) pilot [privacy data omitted] executed a short field obstacle…
- [Incident 19870520034849I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870520034849I), May 20, 1987: Cessna R182 (N6287T), Lancaster, PA, Minor damage. Unable to get a safe indication of gear. Nose gear collapsed on rollout. Downlock pin on actuator was broken.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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