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Accidents · NTSB CEN11CA037 · Final report

Cessna 182K accident near Henderson, Texas, October 15, 2010

On October 15, 2010 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182K, registered N3057Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Henderson, Texas (Rusk County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 15, 2010 · about 8:00 pm local time
Place
Henderson, Texas · Rusk County Airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 182K · all 182Ks on the register
Registration
N3057Q · registry record · serial 18258057
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

During landing, the pilot configured the airplane into a flare and it began to descend at a greater rate than he anticipated. The airplane touched down on the runway surface and bounced several times. The nosewheel tire became flat and the propeller struck the runway. The pilot increased engine power and regained control of the airplane. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall was bent. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

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

  1. Loss of lift during landing (flare/touchdown)
  2. Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
  • cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 279 hours in all; 39 in this make and model
  • Last flight review: August 2, 2010
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,172 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2010
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: KLFK Lufkin TX at 7:30 pm
  • Destination: KRFI Henderson TX
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 17, 4,004 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
  • Observation at 8:03 pm from KRFI

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1
Passengers1

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.