Cessna LC42-550FG accident near Llano, Texas, February 27, 2011
On February 27, 2011 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna LC42-550FG, registered N1018Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Llano, Texas (Llano Municipal airport). It was an instructional 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 improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 2011 · about 9:30 pm local time · cases in 2011
- Place
- Llano, Texas · Llano Municipal · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna LC42-550FG · all LC42-550FGs on the register
- Registration
- N1018Q · registry record · serial 421018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during the landing the airplane bounced twice. When it touched down the second time, it bounced higher. The pilot lowered the nose and flared, but the airplane touched down slightly nose low, and the nose gear failed. The airplane slid approximately 1,000 feet down the runway on its nose gear strut and propeller. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose gear, propeller, left main landing gear, and left wing.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,404 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 2,404 as pilot in command; 1,400 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 26, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 26, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-N (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Chemtec Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: CXO Conroe TX at 7:10 pm
- Destination: AQO Llano TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,202 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.57 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from AQO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1018Q on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna LC42 16 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-550-N 2,789 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Llano Municipal · nearest airport
- Conroe/North Houston Regional · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,064 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,966 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN11LA210.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.