Cessna T182T accident near Silver Springs, Nevada, September 12, 2017
On September 12, 2017 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 2008 Cessna T182T, registered N946CA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Silver Springs, Nevada (Silver Springs airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate during a simulated engine failure, which resulted in a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2017 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Silver Springs, Nevada · Silver Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T182T T, built 2008 · all T182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N946CA · registry record · serial T18208891
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that the purpose of the flight was to provide a proficiency checkout for the pilot, which is an organizational requirement before pilots are authorized to fly their airplanes. After completing area work, they returned to the airport. The pilot landed the airplane and taxied back to the departure end of the runway. The flight instructor then assumed control of the airplane to demonstrate a rejected takeoff after a simulated engine failure. About 50 to 100 ft above the ground, he retarded the throttle, lowered the flaps to 40°, and lowered the nose. An excessive sink rate developed, and the airplane touched down slightly nose up, bounced, then rolled to a stop. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The flight instructor 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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,359 hours in all; 2,010 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 4,359 as pilot in command; 736 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 17, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 173 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 102 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 29, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,553.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 6, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming TIO-540-AK1A (piston); 1,585 hours total
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 4:15 pm
- Destination: SPZ Silver Springs NV
- Runway 24, 6,001 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from KNFL, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.