Cessna 182 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, August 17, 2016
On August 17, 2016 at about 8:59 pm local time, a 1967 Cessna 182, registered N2704Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Anchorage, Alaska (Bryant Aaf airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were 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 a controlled landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inattention and distraction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2016 · about 8:59 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Bryant Aaf · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 K, built 1967 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N2704Q · registry record · serial 18257904
- 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 while on approach to land on a taxiway due to a larger airplane using the runway to offload, he was distracted by the younger passengers in the rear seats and noticed that the airplane's rate of descent was higher than normal. The pilot further reported that, he advanced the throttle to full, however there was not enough time to recover and the airplane landed hard. While taxing to park the pilot realized that the airplane had sustained substantial damage as the rudder controls where jammed due to the nose gear impacting the firewall. The pilot was able to taxi the airplane to a parking position without further incident. The pilot reported that 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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Hard landing during landing defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Noise › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 778 hours in all; 598 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 732 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 6, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,726 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRN Anchorage AK
- Destination: FRN Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway TW B, 1,300 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from PAFR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 31, 2016. 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 | Accident 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.