# NTSB GAA18CA202: Cessna 182, N5292N, Nephi, UT, March 30, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 30, 2018, 12:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Nephi, UT - Coordinates: 39.735279, -111.870002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7353&lon=-111.8700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96987 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96987/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96987 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA202 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper 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 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, the airplane "lurched to the left of the runway, yawed to the right, and nosed down." He added that, as he corrected the airplane parallel with the runway centerline, the airplane "immediately dropped" to the ground and it felt like a "hard landing." He continued the landing roll, taxied clear of the runway, and did a brief check from inside of the airplane for damage. Subsequently, he did not note anything abnormal and proceeded to taxi to the departure airport without further incident. A postflight examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that he believed that a tailwind gust may have been responsible for the sideways lurch, and that the airplane may have stalled resulting in the nose pitching down and the hard landing. A commercial weather reporting station for the town, about 3 miles from the accident airport, reported about the time of the accident that the sky was clear, and the wind was southwest at 5 knots. The pilot landed runway 17. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during the landing flare, the airplane "lurched to the left of the runway, yawed to the right, and nosed down". He added that, as he corrected the airplane parallel with the runway centerline, the airplane "immediately dropped" to the ground and it felt like a "hard landing". He continued the landing roll, taxied clear of the runway, and did a brief check from inside of the airplane for damage. Subsequently, he did not note anything abnormal, and proceeded to fly back to the departure airport without further incident. A postflight examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that he believed that a tailwind gust may have been responsible for the sideways lurch, and that the airplane may have stalled resulting in the nose pitching down and the hard landing. A commercial weather reporting station for the town, about 3 miles from the accident airport, reported about the time of the accident that the sky was clear, and the wind was southwest at 5 knots. The pilot landed runway 17. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5292N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5292N), registered now, S/N 18267624, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (Q) - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18267624 - Year built: 1980 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BTF, BOUNTIFUL, UT - Destination: U14, Nephi, UT - Airport: U14, Nephi Muni, runway 17, 6,300 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 12, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 107 total, 37 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KPVU, 30 nm away ## 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 20180330024879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180330024879A), Mar 30, 2018: Cessna 182Q, Nephi, UT, Substantial damage. The pilot had a hard landing at U14 (Nephi, UT). He stated on final approach just prior to landing, the aircraft dropped, and the aircraft turned and yawed to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 12, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96987. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 866 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463871&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463872&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.