Cessna 182 accident near Golden, Missouri, February 21, 2026
On February 21, 2026 at about 5:32 pm local time, a 1999 Cessna 182, registered N7276V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Golden, Missouri (Table Rock airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to establish stabilized approach that would have allowed the airplane to touch down with adequate runway remaining. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to execute a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 2026 · about 5:32 pm local time
- Place
- Golden, Missouri · Table Rock · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 S, built 1999 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N7276V · registry record · serial 18280570
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had just completed one touch-and-go landing and was performing his second one when he touched down with 500 feet of runway remaining. The airplane had excessive speed due to the unstabilized approach, and the pilot applied maximum braking at the last 50 feet of runway. The airplane went through a ditch and came to rest on a grass embankment next to a barbed wire fence which resulted in substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and right elevator. The operator reported that there were no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The operator further reported that the accident could have been prevented if the pilot had executed a go-around due to the unstabilized approach or may have been prevented if he had applied maximum braking at the point of touchdown.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 267.1 hours in all; 44.8 in this make and model; 7.6 in the last 90 days; 0.5 in the last 30 days; 215.7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,747 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 18, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 (piston); 3,747 hours total
- Operator: Legends Air Center LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KVBT Bentonville AR at 5:10 pm
- Destination: MO32 Golden MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 2,325 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from ROG, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KROG 211658Z 02012KT 10SM CLR 05/M05 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP236 T00501050
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 16, 2026. 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 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.