Cessna T182T accident near Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 21, 2013
On April 21, 2013 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Cessna T182T, registered N538MA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Colorado Springs, Colorado (Colorado Springs Muncipal 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 improper 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
- April 21, 2013 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Colorado Springs, Colorado · Colorado Springs Muncipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T182T · all T182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N538MA · no longer on the register · serial T18208327
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was practicing touch-and-go landings and had completed five when the tower air traffic controller requested that he do a short approach. The pilot stated that he was landing with full flaps, and the wind was 180 degrees at 5 knots gusting to 18 knots. He added that the airplane landed “flat” and bounced. The airplane drifted to the right, and the pilot was unable to correct the drift. The airplane exited the runway and came to rest nose down in a shallow ditch. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing tip was damaged and the nose gear had collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall.
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)
- Loss of control on ground 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 › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 104 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 23, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 859 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2013
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Illini, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KCOS Colorado Springs CO
- Destination: KCOS Colorado Springs CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17L, 13,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from KCOS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 21, 2013. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1: Damaged Airplane (FAA Photo) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2: Damaged Firewall (FAA Photo) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.