Cessna TR182 accident near Yuma, Arizona, July 23, 2002
On July 23, 2002 at about 4:00 am local time, a Cessna TR182, registered N756EV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yuma, Arizona (Yuma International Airport). 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 failure to properly verify that the landing gear was in the down and locked position.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2002 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Yuma, Arizona · Yuma International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N756EV · registry record · serial R18201056
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane landed with the gear partially extended during a night landing. The pilot stated that he often dims all of the panel lights during night flights in an effort to improve his night vision. While attempting to illuminate the landing gear indicator light, by turning the knob counterclockwise, he had accidentally depressed the "press and test" indicator knob, giving him a false indication that the gear was in the down and locked position. Mechanics examined the airplane after the accident and noted that the circuit breaker for the landing gear had popped out. After resetting the circuit breaker, they put the airplane on jacks and cycled the landing gear. They found no anomalies or mechanical malfunctions with the landing gear.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,150 hours in all; 2,970 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: July 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,970 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAT Fresno CA at 1:10 am
- Destination: YUM Yuma AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,711 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 am from NYL, 1 miles away
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.