Cessna 182 accident near Prescott, Washington, May 17, 2018
On May 17, 2018, a 1976 Cessna 182, registered N182EW, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (into takeoff position) near Prescott, Washington. 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 taxiing too fast on rough terrain, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2018
- Place
- Prescott, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 P, built 1976 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N182EW · registry record · serial 18264841
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during taxi on a loose dirt surface, he initiated a left 180° turn. He reported that he was using a "fairly aggressive power setting to compensate for the surface conditions." During the left turn, the right wingtip struck the ground. Additionally, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane then rolled left, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to left wing. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if the airplane's power setting had not been more than what was needed and that "a more conservative power setting and slower taxi speed could prevent future occurrences." The pilot reported that 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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi (into takeoff position)
- Loss of control on ground during taxi (into takeoff position) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Effect on operation
- 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 283 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 162 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 21, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,440 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-470-F (piston); 3,838 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALW Walla Walla WA
- Destination: Prescott WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from ALW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.