# NTSB WPR25LA076: Cessna 182M, N71074, Los Alamos, NM, December 31, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 31, 2024, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Los Alamos, NM - Coordinates: 35.879686, -106.26868 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8797&lon=-106.2687&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 199524 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199524/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199524 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA076 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while landing in gusty crosswind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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 182M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072728), [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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while monitoring his destination airport’s automated weather report during a local flight he discovered that the wind had was initially from 180° at 7 knots but had increased to 11 knots with gusts to 18 knots. The pilot selected runway 27 for landing, and during final approach, encountered turbulence along with a fluctuation in airspeed of plus or minus 10 miles per hour, which he attributed to possible low-level wind shear. When about 50 ft above ground level, the pilot heard the stall warning horn while in a nose down attitude. The pilot stated that he focused on solely on airspeed and failed to maintain appropriate crosswind correction, as wind gusts pushed the airplane towards the left side of the runway. The pilot was unable to recover from the uncommanded movement and the airplane touched down on or near the left edge of the runway beyond the runway threshold. The airplane crossed the grassy area between the runway and taxiway, struck a taxiway curb and the nose landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71074](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N71074), registered now, S/N 18259484, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182M - Registry model: [Cessna 182M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182m) (registry code 2072728) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18259484 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 942.1 - Engines: Continental O-47O-R 230 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Front Row LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 14, 2024 - Departed: SKX, Taos, NM - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LAM, Los Alamos, runway 09/27, 6,000 × 120 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 15, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 573 total, 398 in this make and model, 521 as pilot in command, 4.5 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KLAM, 1 nm away - METAR: KLAM 312015Z AUTO 17011G17KT 8SM CLR 04/M10 A3001 RMK AO2 T00381102 $ ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20241231021879I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241231021879I), Dec 31, 2024: Cessna 182M, Los Alamos, NM, Minor damage. On 12/31/2024 at 1300 local, there was reported windshear in the area of klam. The private pilot departed klam with no flight plan, in a Cessna 182M to conduct… ## Other investigations on N71074 (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW70DRA08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW70DRA08), Feb 14, 1970: Cessna 182 (N71074), Galveston, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199524. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18249323&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 556 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18249333&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-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.