Cessna 182G accident near Montrose, Colorado, July 30, 2012
On July 30, 2012 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182G, registered N3198S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Montrose, Colorado (Montrose Regional 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
- July 30, 2012 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Montrose, Colorado · Montrose Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182G · all 182Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3198S · no longer on the register · serial 18255698
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident occurred while the pilot was attempting to land. The pilot reported that the airplane bounced upon touchdown and that she initially believed it would settle back onto the runway without further incident. However, the airplane landed hard and bounced for a second time. The pilot responded with a small increase in engine power in an attempt to regain control, but the airplane impacted nosewheel first and began to porpoise. The pilot reported that the subsequent two to three touchdowns were progressively harder and each involved the nosewheel touching down before the main landing gear. The airplane eventually came to rest near the right edge of the runway in a nose-down attitude. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 613 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 550 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 29, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,946 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGJT Grand Junction CO at 7:15 pm
- Destination: KMTJ Montrose CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KMTJ
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.