Cessna 182 accident near York, Pennsylvania, October 20, 2001
On October 20, 2001 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N7399S, was substantially damaged in an accident near York, Pennsylvania (York Airport). It was a personal 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 pilot in command's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose gear failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 2001 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- York, Pennsylvania · York Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N7399S · no longer on the register · serial 18265189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was landing after a cross country flight. Upon landing, the main wheels touched down, followed by the nose wheel. The airplane "porpoised" three times, the nose wheel hub broke, and the prop struck the runway. Examination of the fracture surfaces on the wheel and wheel fragments revealed that all fractures were due to overstress. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 225 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 26, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Crew member
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2001; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 0470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LBE Latrobe PA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: THV York PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 5,188 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from THV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.