Cessna 182M accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, May 27, 1988
On May 27, 1988 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Cessna 182M, registered N70618, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona (Flagstaff airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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
- May 27, 1988 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · Flagstaff · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182M · all 182Ms on the register
- Registration
- N70618 · registry record · serial 18259328
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PLT WAS LANDING IN GUSTING CONDITIONS IN EXCESS OF 30 KNOTS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE APPROACH WAS FASTER THAN NORMAL DUE TO A SICK PASSENGER. ON TOUCHDOWN THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED FIRST AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A PORPOISING MOTION. THE PLT APPLIED POWER AND THE AIRPLANE SETTLED ON THE RUNWAY. THE PLT DID NOT NOTE THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER 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
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,120 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 9, 1988; 24 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: FLG Flagstaff AZ at 3:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 20 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.