Cessna TR182 accident near Center, Colorado, July 21, 1995
On July 21, 1995 at about 11:52 pm local time, a Cessna TR182, registered N5153R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Center, Colorado (Center Leach airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. A FACTOR WAS A PREMATURE LANDING FLARE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1995 · about 11:52 pm local time
- Place
- Center, Colorado · Center Leach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N5153R · registry record · serial TR18200637
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A STEEP APPROACH TO LAND OVER POWER LINES OFF THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. HE FLARED HIGH, AND ON LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND THE BOUNCE BECAME DIVERGENT. THE WIND WAS APPROXIMATELY 60 DEGREES RIGHT OF THE NOSE AT 15 KNOTS AND THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AFTER POWER WAS ADDED TO GO AROUND.
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: 1,109 hours in all; 380 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,930 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1994; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-LSC5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GJT Grand Junction CO at 11:15 pm
- Destination: 1V8
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 6,965 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from ALS, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.