Cessna T182 accident near Carson City, Nevada, May 20, 2017
On May 20, 2017 at about 4:00 am local time, a 2004 Cessna T182, registered N6203S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Carson City, Nevada (Carson 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 unstabilized approach during the landing flare and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 2017 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Carson City, Nevada · Carson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T182 T, built 2004 · all T182s on the register
- Registration
- N6203S · no longer on the register · serial T18208285
- 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 he was conducting a night flight to comply with the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 61.57 (b) night takeoff and landing experience requirements. He added that, on his second approach, the airplane encountered wind shear during the landing flare. The airplane was blown about 40° nose left of the runway centerline. The pilot tried to correct to the right, but the airplane stalled and landed hard. The nose landing gear tire separated from the wheel, and the airplane bounced. The airplane settled on the runway, and a propeller strike occurred as the airplane slid off the left side of the runway. After the runway excursion, the nose landing gear wheel burrowed into the dirt surface, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The METAR reported that the wind about the time of the accident was from 050° at 8 knots. Critical wind shear or low-level wind shear were not observed at any time during the day or night per the METAR on the date of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- 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 › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 428 hours in all; 166 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 369 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 13, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,455 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,690 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AK1A (piston); 1,455 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXP Carson City NV at 3:30 am
- Destination: CXP Carson City NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,101 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 am from KCXP, 1 miles away
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 October 5, 2017. 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 | 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.