Cessna 182L accident near Moab, Utah, September 1, 1989
On September 1, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182L, registered N42027, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moab, Utah (Canyonlands airport). It was a personal 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
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN A FLARE. THE UNFAVORABLE (VARIABLE & GUSTY) WIND CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Moab, Utah · Canyonlands · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182L · all 182Ls on the register
- Registration
- N42027 · registry record · serial 18258818
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT AND HIS WIFE WERE MAKING A X-COUNTRY FLIGHT. RPRTDLY, WHEN HE LANDED, THE WIND WAS VARIABLE FROM 270 TO 300 DEG AT 10 TO 15 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KTS. THE PLT SAID THAT AT TOUCHDOWN, THE PLANE ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST AND LANDED HARD. HE SAID HE MADE A GO-AROUND AND LANDED ON RWY 3 WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. AFTER LANDING, HE FOUND A WRINKLE IN THE FUSELAGE AND AN A&P MECHANIC DISCOVERED DAMAGE TO THE FIREWALL. DENSITY ALT WAS ABOUT 7500 FT AT THE ARPT.
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: 132 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 84 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ogden Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: PGA Page AZ at 9:15 pm
- Destination: CNY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 6,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.