Cessna 182 accident near Traverse City, Michigan, March 26, 2008
On March 26, 2008 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5338B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Traverse City, Michigan (Cherry Capital airport). It was an instructional 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 unstabalized approach performed by the student pilot and the go-around not performed by the student pilot. Additional causes were the inadequate recovery from a bounced landing and the directional control not obtained by the student pilot. Contributing factors were the wind gusts and the student pilot’s lack of total experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2008 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Traverse City, Michigan · Cherry Capital · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5338B · no longer on the register · serial 33338
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane received substantial damage on impact with terrain when it veered off runway 28 (6,501 feet by 150 feet, asphalt) and nosed over during a student solo flight. The student pilot stated that after turning to the final approach segment, he increased engine power because the airplane altitude was low. He stated that the airplane altitude then became too high, and he should have performed a go-around. He then reduced engine power, and the airplane began a "rapid" descent. During the landing flare, he "lost control" and bounced the airplane after the airplane experienced a reported wind gust. He attempted to use rudder but unknowingly used brakes in trying to steer the airplane. The airplane then skidded off the runway, nosed over, and sustained structural damage to both wings and empennage.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Incorrect use/operation
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 50 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 57D New Haven MI
- Destination: TVC Traverse City MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28, 6,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 17 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:13 pm from TVC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.