Cessna 182A accident near Gustavus, Alaska, August 14, 2014
On August 14, 2014 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1958 Cessna 182A, registered N2121G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Gustavus, Alaska (Excursion Inlet airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's unstable landing approach which resulted in a long landing, and subsequent collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2014 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gustavus, Alaska · Excursion Inlet · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A A, built 1958 · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N2121G · registry record · serial 51421
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while on final approach to land she noticed an area of reduced visibility in her approach path, and elected to go-around. On the second approach she came in high, over top of the obscuration, which resulted in a steeper-than-normal approach and long landing. Upon touchdown, she applied the main wheel brakes, but the airplane began to slide along the runways muddy surface. Nearing the end of the runway she initiated a slight left turn, the left main wheel dug into the mud, the left wing impacted brush along the side of the runway, and the airplane nosed down, sustaining substantial damage to the wings. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been avoided if she had gone around prior to touchdown, waited for the area of reduced visibility on the approach end of the runway to dissipate, or anticipated the muddy runway conditions.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,055 hours in all; 447 in this make and model; 280 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 995 as pilot in command; 105 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 27, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,142 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 260 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAJN Juneau AK
- Destination: EXI Gustavus AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway SE, 3,100 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.