# NTSB WPR26LA038: Cessna 182P, N1303S, San Andreas, CA, November 3, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 3, 2025, 12:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: San Andreas, CA
- Coordinates: 38.144511, -120.64888 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1445&lon=-120.6489&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201957
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA038
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201957/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201957
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA038

## Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to adjust his seat during the takeoff roll, which resulted in the seat sliding aft and a subsequent loss of directional control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/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 182P, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the airplane reported that during the takeoff roll he attempted to adjust his seat forward. The seat slid to the full aft position. As a result, the pilot could no longer reach the pedals to maintain directional control. The airplane subsequently departed the runway and nosed over. The pilot was seriously injured and the airplane fuselage, wings and empennage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1303S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1303S), registered now, S/N 18264869, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P
- Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18264869
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 3783.9
- Engines: Continental O-470-S 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 2024
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: CPU, Calaveras County Maury Rasmussen Field, runway 31, 3,602 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 10, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 457 total, 116 in this make and model, 217 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: CPU, 5 nm away
- METAR: METAR KCPU 032055Z AUTO 26005KT 10SM CLR 25/10 A3003 RMK AO2 T02500095

## 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 20251103017229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251103017229A), Nov 3, 2025: Cessna 182P, San Andreas, CA, Destroyed. During the take-off roll the pilot attempted to adjusted his seat forward one engagement hole and when he pulled the adjustment handle the seat move to the aft…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201957. 6.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19590944&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA038%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 218 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19590986&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-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.