# NTSB ERA26LA228: Cessna R182, N6287T, Fitchburg, MA, May 26, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 26, 2026, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Fitchburg, MA - Coordinates: 42.554873, -71.760482 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5549&lon=-71.7605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 203124 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203124/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203124 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA228 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 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) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had completed two previous landings uneventfully and was attempting to land for a third time. Review of airport surveillance video showed that the airplane approached the runway with a significant unarrested rate of descent while in a slightly nose high pitch attitude. The descent continued until the airplane contacted the runway hard, after which the nose landing gear immediately collapsed and the airplane came to stop on the runway. The underside of the airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged during the landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6287T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6287T), registered now, S/N R18201960, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA R182 (NO SERIES EXISTS) - 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: R18201960 - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 4923 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-J3c5c 235 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 21, 2025, 3.9 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FIT, Fitchburg Muni, runway 32, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review October 26, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 700 total, 220 in this make and model, 6.8 in the last 90 days, 2.7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F - METAR: SA 26/05/2026 15:52-> METAR KFIT 261552Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 26/09 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP179 T02560094= ## 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 20260526007509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260526007509A), May 26, 2026: Cessna R182, Fitchburg, MA, Substantial damage. 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… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203124. 13.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20626705&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20626652&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MEMORANDUM%20FOR%20RECORD-pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 3, MOV, 8.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20626434&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_3031-Rel.MOV - Investigative photos (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20626662&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%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.