Cessna 182P accident near Clifton, Texas, December 21, 2010
On December 21, 2010 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N9317G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Clifton, Texas (Clifton Muncipal 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 inadequate compensation for the crosswind and inadequate 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
- December 21, 2010 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Clifton, Texas · Clifton Muncipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N9317G · no longer on the register · serial 18260857
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind just prior to touchdown, and the pilot added power, but the engine did not respond. The airplane then landed hard, tearing the right main landing gear off, followed by the nosewheel landing gear. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane’s fuselage was buckled aft of the main landing gear attachment points and that both tips of the two-bladed propeller were curled aft in a manner consistent with the engine producing power at the time of impact. A witness reported that he heard the sound of metal contacting the ground and observed the airplane dragging its wing. He also observed the main landing gear separate from the airplane and the baggage door open. He did not hear the engine increase power for a go-around. The closest automated weather reporting station, located about 21 miles southeast of the accident site, reported wind from 220 degrees at 8 knots.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Hard landing during landing defining event
- Landing gear collapse during post (impact)
- Nose over/nose down
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 85 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 56 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,820 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 17, 2010
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pauls Valley Flyboys LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KPVS Pauls Valley OK at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 7F7 Clifton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from KACT, 21 miles away
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.