Cessna 182Q accident near Clinton, Arkansas, January 25, 2009
On January 25, 2009 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N759YH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Clinton, Arkansas (Holley Mountain airport). 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 improper flare, resulting in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the gust of wind as reported by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 2009 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Clinton, Arkansas · Holley Mountain · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N759YH · registry record · serial 18266361
- 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 he experienced a "wind-shift and gust" upon landing. The pilot further reported that the airplane encountered a tailwind and hit the runway hard. During the impact, the nosewheel tire "blew-out" and the airplane's propeller struck the runway. An examination of the airplane following the accident revealed that the firewall 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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 129 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 68 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 16, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,247 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2008
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2A2 Clinton AR
- Destination: 2A2 Clinton AR
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 23, 4,795 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: ovct
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.