Cessna TR182 accident near Rio Vista, California, June 30, 2015
On June 30, 2015 at about 6:40 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna TR182, registered N739WW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Rio Vista, California (Rio Vista Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's use of improper procedures during an aborted landing, resulting in a runway excursion and a collision with a canal.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2015 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Vista, California · Rio Vista Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 NO SERIES, built 1979 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N739WW · no longer on the register · serial R18201013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing touch down the airplane porpoised, and he elected to abort the landing. The flight instructor stated that the pilot raised the flaps, retracted the landing gear, and pulled back the power at the same time. The airplane descended and impacted the runway. The airplane then veered off the runway to the left and slid until the airplane impacted a canal, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Configuration › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,063.4 hours in all; 0.4 in this make and model; 0.4 in the last 90 days; 0.4 in the last 30 days; 979.5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 27, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,793 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 5,452 as pilot in command; 666 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 27, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,154.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540L-3C5D (piston); 3,155 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA at 6:17 pm
- Destination: O88 Rio Vista CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,199 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 6:58 pm from KSUU, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 29, 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 - Pilot | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - CFI | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Owner | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 – Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 2 – Fuselage Damage from Left Aft (Photo Courtesy of Owner) | 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.