# NTSB CEN26LA216: Cessna 182P, N86289, Northport, MI, May 20, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 20, 2026, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Northport, MI - Coordinates: 45.482167, -85.780833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4822&lon=-85.7808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203107 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203107/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203107 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA216 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to resume taxiing on a turf runway that was unable to adequately support the airplane's weight, which resulted in the nose landing gear sinking into the soft ground and the propeller striking the terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Towing and taxiing: taxiing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010920): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010920/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010920/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot conducted an aerial inspection of the grass runway before landing and observed no indications that the surface was unsuitable for operations. The landing was uneventful; however, during a subsequent turn to back taxi, the right main landing gear became stuck in soft terrain. After freeing the airplane, the pilot elected to use a soft-field takeoff technique to taxi the airplane to a drier portion of the runway. During this attempt, the nosewheel encountered another area of soft terrain, sank into the ground, and the propeller struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86289](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86289), registered now, S/N 18261923, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18261923 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 6285 - Engines: Continental Motors O-470R74B 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 2025, 44 hours before - Departed: MBL, Manistee, MI - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 6Y3, North Fox Island Airport, runway 07, 3,001 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 23, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 526 total, 526 in this make and model, 526 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Icing: Clear - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KSJX, 15 nm away - METAR: KSJX 201955Z AUTO 33007KT 310V010 10SM CLR 10/M00 A3031 RMK AO2 ## 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 20260520007589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260520007589A), May 20, 2026: Cessna 182P, North Fox Islan, MI, Substantial damage. On may 20, 2026, at approximately 1800 EDT, a Cessna 182P aircraft, registered as [privacy data omitted], sustained damage during a landing rollout on a grass… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203107. 6.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20632229&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA216%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 318 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20627517&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA216%20photo%20array-Rel.pdf - Sketch of accident location (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20640757&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA216%20SKETCH%20OF%20INCIDENT_Redacted-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.