Cessna 182P accident near Mesa, Arizona, June 29, 2001
On June 29, 2001 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N7336Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Field). 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 improper use of the rudder control to correct for torque and P-factor effects, which resulted in a loss of directional control and an inadvertent ground loop/swerve.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2001 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Field · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N7336Q · no longer on the register · serial 18260976
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff the airplane lost directional control, landed on the left side of the runway, collided with a ditch, crossed back over the runway, and came to rest on the right side of the runway. The pilot reported that a wind disturbance turned him to the left of the runway and made it hard to control the airplane. He stated the winds were reported as 40 degrees off to the right of the runway heading at 11 knots and there were no gusts. The closest weather reporting station was Phoenix Sky Harbor airport (PHX) about 17 statute miles east of Mesa airport, and at 1156, was reporting the winds to be 250 at 13 knots.
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
- Flight time: 86 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 18, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,792 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 2000; 118 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ at 7:10 pm
- Destination: FFZ AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22R, 3,801 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KFFZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.