Cessna 182 accident near San Luis Obispo, California, July 8, 2018
On July 8, 2018 at about 6:26 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna 182, registered N411BP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near San Luis Obispo, California (San Luis County Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 2018 · about 6:26 pm local time
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · San Luis County Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 Q, built 1977 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N411BP · registry record · serial 18266177
- 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, he made a straight-in approach about 80 knots and full flaps on final. He initiated the landing flare and "felt a slight sink in lift," which resulted in a hard landing. He reported that the airplane bounced four times with each bounce increasing in height and magnitude. Subsequently, he taxied the airplane to the nearest intersection but was unable to continue because the airplane was "taxiing rough", and he believed that the nose landing gear tire was damaged. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right fuselage stringers. Additionally, the pilot asserted that proper trim application could have helped to prevent this accident and that he should have aborted the landing after the first hard bounce. 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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
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 › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 84.6 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 7.8 in the last 90 days; 1.1 in the last 30 days; 40.2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 7, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,663.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 3, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Above All Aviation Inc
The flight
- Departed from: SBA Santa Barbara CA at 5:50 pm
- Destination: SBP San Luis Obispo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 6,101 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from KSBP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 11, 2018. 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 | 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.