Cessna T182T accident near Ely, Nevada, September 24, 2015
On September 24, 2015 at about 7:45 pm local time, a 2001 Cessna T182T, registered N5918D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Ely, Nevada (Ely Arpt /Yelland Fld/ 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 failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and a collision with an airport sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 2015 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ely, Nevada · Ely Arpt /Yelland Fld/ · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T182T T, built 2001 · all T182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N5918D · registry record · serial T18208039
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that she was compensating for a crosswind throughout the final approach to landing. During the touchdown, the airplane was "at a slight angle" and immediately veered to the right. The pilot reported that she applied full left rudder and brakes, but the airplane exited the runway and impacted a runway distance remaining sign with the left wing strut and left main landing gear. The left wing strut sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Other weather encounter 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)
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 › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 601 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 576 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 9, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,291.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AK1A (piston); 1,291 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BKE Baker City OR at 4:23 pm
- Destination: ELY Ely NV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 6,018 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KELY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 18, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Docket Photos | PDF, 2 pages | 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.