# NTSB FTW97LA234: Cessna 182Q, N96TJ, Sugar Land, TX, June 25, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 25, 1997, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Sugar Land, TX
- Coordinates: 29.610034, -95.609481 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6100&lon=-95.6095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20252
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA234
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20252/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA234

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper landing flare and 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)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he intended to fly to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Approximately 20 minutes into his flight, the pilot reversed his course and returned to Sugar Land Municipal Airport due to weather. The pilot reported that he 'flared the airplane too high' and 'on returning to earth there was a loud crunch from the front nose wheel and the aircraft veered sharply to the left.'  The pilot added that the airplane crossed the taxiway and came to rest in a ditch on the east side of Runway 17.

## Factual narrative

On June 25, 1997, at 1430 central daylight time, a Cessna 182Q airplane, N96TJ, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing at Sugar Land Municipal Airport near Sugar Land, Texas.  The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured.  The airplane was owned and operated by the Sugar Land Jet Center Inc., of Sugar Land, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight which originated from Sugar Land, approximately 40 minutes prior to the accident.  A flight plan had not been filed.

According to the pilot, he intended to fly to Lake Charles, Louisiana.  Approximately 20 minutes into his flight, the pilot reversed his course and returned to Sugar Land Municipal Airport due to weather.  The pilot reported to the Investigator-In-Charge that he "flared the airplane too high" and "on returning to earth there was a loud crunch from the front nose wheel and the aircraft veered sharply to the left."  The pilot added that the airplane crossed the taxiway and came to rest in a ditch on the east side of Runway 17.  Postcrash examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall was damaged, both wings were bent, and the nose gear was bent aft subsequently damaging the fuselage structure.

FAA records indicate that the pilot received his private pilot license on November 12, 1996.  The pilot indicated on his NTSB's Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (6120.1/2) that he had approximately 125 hours of flight time and approximately 15 hours in this make/model.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N96TJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 182Q
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18266888
- Airframe hours: 2996
- Engines: Continental O-470 265 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sugar Land Jet Center Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 23, 1997, 29 hours before
- Departed: SGR
- Airport: SGR, Sugar Land Muni Field, runway 17, 8,000 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 125 total, 15 in this make and model, 61 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 93 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SGR

## 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 19970625018339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970625018339A), Jun 25, 1997: Cessna 182Q, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Bounced landing came back down on nose. Lost control. Exited runway into a ditch. Structural damage. (-23) landing on runway 17 at sugarland airport bounced on…

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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