# NTSB ERA15CA074: Cessna R182, N756EB, Vero Beach, FL, December 4, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 4, 2014, 12:18 local (17:18 UTC) - Place: Vero Beach, FL - Coordinates: 27.655555, -80.418052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6556&lon=-80.4181&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90491 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90491/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90491 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA074 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, resulting in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis At the conclusion of a local flight, the pilot returned to his home airport and approached the runway for landing. The airplane touched down on the runway with the main landing gear, bounced back into the air, and touched down a second time, with the nose landing gear striking the runway first. The nose landing gear tire then separated from the landing gear, and the airplane continued down the runway on the wheel's rim. The remaining lower portion of the landing gear subsequently broke away from the airplane, and the airplane eventually came to a stop on the runway. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the runway and airplane following the accident and estimated that the distance between the airplane's initial impact and where it eventually came to rest was about 300 feet. The separated portions of the nose landing gear were recovered from that portion of the runway, including the tire, wheel rim, landing gear fork, and up-position microswitch. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, and that the firewall and lower portion of the fuselage had been substantially damaged. ## Factual narrative At the conclusion of a local flight, the pilot returned to his home airport and approached the runway for landing. The airplane touched down on the runway with the main landing gear, bounced back into the air, and touched down a second time, with the nose landing gear striking the runway first. The nose landing gear tire then separated from the landing gear, and the airplane continued down the runway on the wheel's rim. The remaining lower portion of the landing gear subsequently broke away from the airplane, and the airplane eventually came to a stop on the runway. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the runway and airplane following the accident and estimated that the distance between the airplane's initial impact and where it eventually came to rest was about 300 feet. The separated portions of the nose landing gear were recovered from that portion of the runway, including the tire, wheel rim, landing gear fork, and up-position microswitch. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, and that the firewall and lower portion of the fuselage had been substantially damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N756EB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N756EB), registered now, S/N R18201046, built 1979 (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: R18201046 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 6301 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fj & B Aero LLC - Registered owner: Fj & B Aero LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 20, 2014, 85 hours before - Departed: VRB, Vero Beach, FL - Destination: VRB, Vero Beach, FL - Airport: VRB, Vero Beach Muni, runway 04, 4,974 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,834 total, 22 in this make and model, 853 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KVRB ## 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 20141204022539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141204022539A), Dec 4, 2014: Cessna R182, Vero Beach, FL, Substantial damage. A privately leased aircraft attempted to land on runway 4, at vrb. The pilot stated a flickering gear indication. A witness, for the accident employed by paris… ## Other investigations on N756EB (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 ERA26LA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA321), Aug 30, 2026: Cessna R182 (N756EB), Clarksville, TN, substantial damage, investigation ongoing ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90491. 8.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424394&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record – FAA Inspector Observations (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424395&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20FAA%20Inspector%20Observations-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 192 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424396&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Airplane (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424397&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Airplane%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Nose Landing Gear Fracture (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424398&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Nose%20Landing%20Gear%20Fracture%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.