The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB CEN12CA509 · Final report

Cessna 182Q accident near Three Lakes, Wisconsin, July 31, 2012

On July 31, 2012 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N1DV, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Three Lakes, Wisconsin (Three Lakes Municipal 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 excessive touchdown speed, which resulted in a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience in flying light airplanes.

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

What the record shows

Date
July 31, 2012 · about 5:40 pm local time
Place
Three Lakes, Wisconsin · Three Lakes Municipal Airport · 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
N1DV · no longer on the register · serial 18266980
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

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

Upon arrival at his destination airport after an uneventful instrument flight rules flight, the pilot entered the left downwind leg of the traffic pattern for a visual landing. The initial flare and touchdown were smooth at 85 knots. The airplane then floated and bounced twice, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest about halfway down the runway. An examination of the airplane showed that the nose gear was separated from the airplane, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall. The pilot reported that he should have slowed to about 70 to 75 knots for touchdown to avoid floating and the subsequent bounced landing. The pilot stated that he was a corporate jet pilot and that he flew light reciprocating-engine aircraft only a few times a year. His perspective was that in flying corporate jets, computations of final approach speeds are more precisely determined and executed by the pilot. Final approach speeds in the light airplane category are determined moreso by an airspeed range depending on the wind conditions and gross weight. He offered that his higher-than-optimal approach speed was a result of not having recent experience in flying light airplanes. He stated that he had not flown a light aircraft for 6 months prior to this event.

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. Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Recent experience w/ equipment › Pilot
  • cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
  • cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation

Pilot

  • Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 13,356 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 11,321 as pilot in command; 650 on instruments
  • Last flight review: February 29, 2012
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,274 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 2011
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: SPI Spingfield IL at 3:00 pm
  • Destination: 40D Three Lakes WI
  • Flight plan: IFR
  • Runway 21

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 010° at 9 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: scat at 4,200 ft
  • Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
  • Observation at 5:00 pm from EGV, 10 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

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.