Cessna 182L accident near Branson, Missouri, November 25, 2011
On November 25, 2011 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182L, registered N42206, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Branson, Missouri (Taney 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 improper landing flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 2011 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Branson, Missouri · Taney County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182L · all 182Ls on the register
- Registration
- N42206 · registry record · serial 18258899
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to a local airport representative, witnesses (local fixed based operator personnel) observed the airplane on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and noticed that it was approximately 50 to 70 feet above the trees. During final approach, the airplane descended well below the normal visual approach path and then touched down on the runway. After touchdown, the airplane began to bounce and porpoise. The airplane then became stable on the landing gear and taxied to the ramp. The witnesses noticed that the airplane's nose wheel was bent forward, and, after further inspection, it was determined that the firewall was bent. The pilot reported that the airplane experienced a hard landing.
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 (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 › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 197 hours in all; 197 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 11, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DYR Dyersburg TN at 2:00 pm
- Destination: PLK Branson MO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 12, 3,738 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.