Cessna 182M accident near Ramona, California, March 8, 2015
On March 8, 2015 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1969 Cessna 182M, registered N2030M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Ramona, California (Ramona airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2015 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ramona, California · Ramona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182M M, built 1969 · all 182Ms on the register
- Registration
- N2030M · no longer on the register · serial 18259657
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot planned to remain in the traffic pattern for touch and go practice. On the first landing, the pilot reported that he came in fast on approach and touched down nose wheel first. The airplane bounced and the pilot pushed the nose back down toward the runway, causing a porpoise. During the porpoise, the pilot lost directional control and the airplane veered to the left departing the runway into the grass. The nose gear collapsed during the runway excursion, resulting in substantial damage to the engine firewall and fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Additional information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air safety inspector revealed the pilot was operating the airplane on an airman's certificate that has been suspended since 1994.
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)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,260 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 1,100 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNM Ramona CA at 6:55 pm
- Destination: RNM Ramona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KRNM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on May 26, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation, 2 (Pilot in Command) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation (Witness Statement, Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 1 – Fuselage and Engine Cowling (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 2 – Underside of Engine Compartment (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 3 – Engine Cowling (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.