Cessna R182 accident near Monument Valley, Utah, May 7, 2000
On May 7, 2000 at about 5:35 pm local time, a Cessna R182, registered N3622C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Monument Valley, Utah (Monument Valley airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his delayed go-around, which resulted in the loss of aircraft control. A factor was the turbulent weather conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2000 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Monument Valley, Utah · Monument Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N3622C · registry record · serial 18200281
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he overflew the airport to check the available wind information. He noticed that the windsocks were indicating a 'very strong wind' and that one windsock was fluctuating 20-30 degrees from side to side. The pilot applied full flaps after turning onto final approach. During the final approach to the 4000-foot dirt runway, the airplane encountered 'severe turbulence.' The pilot reported that he noticed the airspeed fluctuate between 50 and 70 knots, so he applied more power; however, a 'tremendous sink rate was developing.' The airplane touched down 'very hard,' bounced into the air, and the pilot executed a go-around. At an altitude of less that 100 feet agl, the pilot initiated 'a shallow left turn to avoid a thousand foot cliff.' During the go-around turn, the airplane 'developed a sink rate that was uncontrollable.' The pilot leveled the wings for an off-airport landing. During the uncontrolled descent, the airplane impacted a small hill with the right wing. The nearest weather station, 49 nautical miles from the accident site, reported winds from 220 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 7,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,649 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 26, 2000; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEZ Sedona AZ at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 71V
- Runway 17, 4,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Observation at 5:55 pm from 4BL, 48 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.