Cessna 182T accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, November 11, 2002
On November 11, 2002 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 182T, registered N794SA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona (Scottsdale 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's failure to apply adequate crosswind compensation, which resulted in a loss of directional control. Factors were the crosswind and the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 2002 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · Scottsdale Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182T · all 182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N794SA · registry record · serial T18208062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On final for runway 21, the pilot applied crosswind correction, and landed on the centerline. The pilot stated that he could not maintain directional control of the airplane on the landing rollout. The airplane drifted to the left and struck runway lights and a sign. Reported winds prior to the accident were from 330 degrees at 9 knots. About 30 minutes after the accident, the reported winds were from 310 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had received "more landing practice, including crosswind practice in this particular type of aircraft (high wing)." The pilot had accumulated 5 hours flight time in the accident make and model of airplane.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,558 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 4,013 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 8, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 529.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 13, 2002; 30.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AK1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 8:00 pm
- Destination: SDL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 8,249 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from SDL
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.