Cessna 182R accident near Wausau, Wisconsin, November 22, 2003
On November 22, 2003 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N323KW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wausau, Wisconsin (Wausau Muni airport). It was an instructional 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 flare which resulted in a hard landing, and the flight instructors inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 2003 · about 7:10 pm local time
- Place
- Wausau, Wisconsin · Wausau Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N323KW · registry record · serial 18268480
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage during a hard landing . The pilot stated, "On the last cross wind landing [using] runway [12] no flaps was holding 80 [knots]. Did a practice engine out on short final. The plane came to a stop when the power was pulled. Air speed was at 80 [knots] dropped to nothing, and then the plane [sunk] on to the runway." The flight instructor stated, "After reducing power I asked him if we were holding 75 [knots] ok and he said yes. Then all of a sudden the aircraft settled very fast and we hit hard and bounced and we were headed for the grass, the left side of the runway, I took the control wheel [and] kept us on the runway." Recorded wind at the airport was 060 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot and flight instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions associated with the flight.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 571 hours in all; 218 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 466 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 21, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,784 hours in all; 1,546 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,588 as pilot in command; 1,321 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 21, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,214 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 2003; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,110 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUW Wausau WI at 6:10 pm
- Destination: AUW
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,950 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from AUW, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.