Cessna 182P accident near Destin, Florida, May 31, 2009
On May 31, 2009 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N1481S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Destin, Florida (Destin- Fort Walton Beach 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2009 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Destin, Florida · Destin- Fort Walton Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N1481S · registry record · serial 18265028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after he joined the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 14, he flew the base leg and then turned onto final. He aligned the airplane with the runway centerline at 75 knots, with "two notches" of flaps. He reduced power just before crossing the runway threshold, and flared for landing. He then felt a loss of lift. He stated that, at the time, he was above stall speed with no stall warning indication. The airplane subsequently came down on the centerline and bounced four times, with the stall warning horn sounding after the first bounce. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed structural damage to the engine firewall. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident. Recorded winds at the airport about the time of the accident were from 190 degrees at 6 knots.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 268 hours in all; 209 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 219 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 8, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,983 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 12, 2009; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AWM West Memphis AR at 3:00 pm
- Destination: DTS Destin FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 14, 4,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from DTS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA09CA363.