# NTSB ERA26LA203: Cessna 182Q, N759AP, Lutz, FL, April 12, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 12, 2026, 18:46 local (22:46 UTC) - Place: Lutz, FL - Coordinates: 28.220267, -82.373623 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2203&lon=-82.3736&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202961 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202961/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA203 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072732), [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 · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot had hired the flight instructor to accompany her on a three-day cross-country trip where they made multiple stops in order for her to gain familiarity with operating the airplane outside of her home operating environment. At the conclusion of a short cross-country flight, the student pilot was manipulating the controls while under instruction. During the landing attempt, the student pilot flared too early at an excessive height above the runway. The flight instructor did not take control of the airplane and instead attempted to give verbal instruction to the student to recover, but the airplane’s sink rate increased as the airspeed decreased. The airplane subsequently landed hard and flat on all 3-landing gear, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Following the accident, the flight instructor stated that in hindsight he should have been more proactive and intervened earlier by conducting a go-around when the approach became unstable. The student pilot also stated that she was uncomfortable with the landings at an unfamiliar airport with 50 ft trees at the ends; she also thought that the flight instructor would be more hands-on during his instruction. The flight instructor reported that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N759AP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N759AP), registered now, S/N 18265841, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182Q - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470-U](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-u) (registry code 17385, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18265841 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 3620.8 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470-U 270 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2026, 24 hours before - Departed: PCM, Plant City, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: X39, Tampa North Aero Park, runway 14/32, 3,541 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 20; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 13, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 469 total, 53 in this make and model, 422 as pilot in command, 145 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 55; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 200 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 10 knots - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 3025.00 inHg - Observed at: ZPH, 13 nm away - METAR: METAR KZPH 122255Z AUTO 09010KT 10SM CLR 26/11 A3025 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.