# NTSB CEN26LA038: Cessna R182, N9054C, Brainerd, MN, November 5, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 5, 2025, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Brainerd, MN - Coordinates: 46.404222, -94.133806 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4042&lon=-94.1338&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 9, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 201966 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201966/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201966 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA038 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to extended to landing gear before landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was completing a local flight and was practicing an instrument approach. During the approach he observed several birds in his intended flight path, which distracted him multiple times, and he forgot to extend the landing gear. Due to the distraction, he also did not notice the landing gear warning horn. The airplane landed with the gear retracted and came to rest upright on the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9054C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9054C), registered now, S/N R18200381, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA R182 - Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18200381 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 5363.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Soaring Soul LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 2025 - Departed: KBRD, Brainerd, MN - Destination: KBRD, Brainerd, MN - Airport: BRD, Brainerd Lakes Rgnl, runway 16/34, 7,100 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 30, 2025; seat: left; flight hours: 8,873 total, 10 in this make and model, 8,264 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 6.9 in the last 30 days, 0.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: KBRD - METAR: METAR KBRD 051953Z AUTO 32010KT 10SM CLR 10/M03 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP222 T01001033 $= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20251105016749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251105016749A), Nov 5, 2025: Cessna R182, Brainerd, MN, Substantial damage. While on a practice instrument approach, the pilot ran his before landing checklist. The checklist was interrupted to avoid a flock of birds. Further on the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201966. 6.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19574659&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19609620&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photos-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.