Cessna 182A accident near Palmer, Alaska, May 17, 1998
On May 17, 1998 at about 3:30 am local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N4827D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmer, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to abort the landing. A factor associated with the accident is the presence of a variable wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1998 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N4827D · registry record · serial 34927
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo private pilot was landing at a private, gravel airstrip in a tricycle landing gear equipped airplane. The pilot stated in his written report that while on final approach to the south runway, he encountered winds estimated to be from 220 degrees at 7 knots with gusts to 12 knots. As the airplane continued on the approach and went below the adjacent tree line, the rate of descent increased. He was unable to arrest the rate of decent prior to touchdown, and the airplane bounced on landing. He recovered from the bounce, and flew further down the runway and landed about midfield of the 1,250 feet long runway. He realized after touchdown he would be unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the runway, and elected to make a hard turn to the right and apply heavy breaking. During the turn, the left wing struck the ground and sustained substantial damage.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 490 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 460 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,908 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1997; 138 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAQ Palmer AK at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,250 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.