Cessna R182 accident near Ames, Iowa, October 22, 2006
On October 22, 2006 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna R182, registered N5274S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ames, Iowa (Ames 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 fatigue failure of the landing gear actuator pin and the exterior visual maintenance inspection for cracks not possible by company maintenance personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 2006 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ames, Iowa · Ames Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N5274S · registry record · serial R18201534
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was operated as an instructional airplane when the nose landing gear collapsed during landing. The flight instructor stated that he and the dual student did not receive "a green light indicating gear down and locked" when landing. They reported cycling the landing gear several times but could not get a down and locked indication. Examination of the landing gear revealed that the two nose gear down lock actuator pins exhibited fatigue fracture over 70 percent of the fracture surface. Cessna service bulletin SEB95-20, recommends a reoccurring 200-hour inspection of the down lock pins for looseness. If looseness or movement is observed, Service kit SK210-155 is to be installed prior to further flight. The service bulletin does not provide for the visual inspection of the pins for fatigue cracks The pins were of the older design, and were reportedly inspected and no looseness was observed. Following the accident, the operator reported that one of the fractured pins was still not loose until he exerted a greater amount of force to check for looseness.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 524 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 93 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 478 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,303 hours in all; 136 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,261 as pilot in command; 679 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,406.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AMW Ames IA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: AMW
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 3,492 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,900 ft; clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from AMW
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.