# NTSB FTW94LA314: Cessna 182N, N9ZG, Cortez, CO, September 28, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 28, 1994, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: Cortez, CO
- Coordinates: 37.34975, -108.569793 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3498&lon=-108.5698&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19174
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA314
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19174/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA314

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING WHILE ON A STUDENT SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT.  HE LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED.  ON THE THIRD TOUCH DOWN, THE NOSE GEAR SHEARED OFF THE AIRCRAFT.

## Factual narrative

On September 28, 1994, at 1145 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182N, N9ZG, landed hard at Cortez-Montezuma County Airport, Cortez, Colorado.  The pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed.

The flight was a student solo cross country which originated earlier in the day from Grand Junction, Colorado, with the first leg to Farmington, New Mexico.  After a short break in Farmington, the flight departed for the return trip to Grand Junction with a touch-and-go planned at Cortez, Colorado.

According to the pilot, when landing at Cortez, he flared high and the firsttouch down was hard.  The second touchdown was more firm and the pilot said he added some power for the third touchdown as the stall warning horn had sounded.  On the third touchdown, the nose wheel sheared off and the aircraft slid to a stop on the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9ZG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9ZG-2012-02-23), registration cancelled 2012-02-23, S/N 18260568, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182N
- Registry model: [Cessna 182N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182n) (registry code 2072730) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18260568
- Airframe hours: 5078
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-LCR 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Kobayashi, Yuki, doing business as Strand Aviation
- Registered owner: I Fly Strand Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 1994, 37 hours before
- Departed: FMN, FARMINGTON, NM
- Destination: CEZ, CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: CEZ, Cortez-Montezuma County, runway 3, 7,105 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 64 total, 7 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19940928032179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940928032179A), Sep 28, 1994: Cessna 182N, Cortez, CO, Substantial damage. Bounced and porpoised landing. Sheared off nose gear. Usual problem premature flare and failed corrective action.

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.

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