- Date
- April 21, 2017, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Killeen, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3308UCessna 182
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 5, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA/ FSDO
- FAA report
- 20170421003939A
- Case key
- 95056
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's incorrect landing flare in gusting wind conditions.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during the landing flare in gusting wind conditions, the airplane "experienced an unexpected nose down pitch with an immediate impact of the front tire on the runway." He added that the airplane porpoised during the rollout but that he was able to keep the airplane on the runway and taxi to the ramp without further incident. The firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the landing flare in gusting wind conditions, the airplane "experienced an unexpected nose down pitch with an immediate impact of the front tire on the runway." He added that the airplane porpoised during the rollout, but he was able to keep the airplane on the runway and taxi to the ramp without further incident. The firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3308U
- Reported as
- Cessna 182 (F)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18254708
- Built
- 1963
- Airframe hours
- 3,558.2
- Engine
- Continental O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2016
- Departed
- TPL · Temple, TX
- Destination
- ILE · Killeen, TX
- Airport
- ILE · Skylark Field, runway 19, 5,495 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 7, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 288 total · 115 in this make and model · 200 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 15 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,800 ft broken
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.80 inHg
- Observed at
- KILE
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.