Cessna 182H accident near Lake Havasucity, Arizona, January 25, 1986
On January 25, 1986 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182H, registered N2302X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Havasucity, Arizona (Lake Hauasu City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 1986 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Havasucity, Arizona · Lake Hauasu City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182H · all 182Hs on the register
- Registration
- N2302X · registry record · serial 18256202
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON JANUARY 25, 1986 A CESSNA 182 COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY SURFACE AFTER THE NOSE WHEEL COLLAPSED ON RUNWAY 5 AT LAKE HAVASU CITY AIRPORT, ARIZONA. VMC PREVAILED AT THE TIME WITH THE UNICOM REPORTED WINDS FROM 270 DEGREES AT 17 KNOTS AND GUSTING. THE DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND COMPONENT FOR THE CESSNA 182 IS 15 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: 154 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 65 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,752 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 1985; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: LHU Lake Havasu AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 5, 6,364 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 275° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from EEO, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 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.