Cessna R182 accident near Williams, Arizona, June 5, 1991
On June 5, 1991 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna R182, registered N484ER, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williams, Arizona (Williams airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THAT THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED WINDSHEAR AND THAT AIRCRAFT CONTROL WAS NOT POSSIBLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1991 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Williams, Arizona · Williams · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N484ER · registry record · serial R18200123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS A CFI INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT. THE CFI/PIC WAS OCCUPYING THE LEFT FRONT SEAT AND THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT/CFI TRAINEE OCCUPIED THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT AND WAS FLYING THE AIRPLANE. THE CFI TRAINEE HAD PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED A TOUCH AND GO LANDING AND TAKEOFF. ON THE SECOND LANDING THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND THE CFI/PIC INSTRUCTED THE TRAINEE TO GO AROUND. THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF AND WAS CLIMBING AT THE BEST RATE WHEN THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHEAR. THE AIRPLANE YAWED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT. THE CFI/PIC IMMEDIATELY ASSUMED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS BUT ALL HE COULD DO WAS TO MAINTAIN A WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO SETTLE AND LANDED HARD AND CARTWHEELED. THE AIRPORT MANAGER CONFIRMED THAT VIRGA AND A DUST DEVIL APPEARED TO ENGULF THE AIRPORT WITHOUT ANY WARNING.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,638 hours in all; 345 in this make and model; 359 in the last 90 days; 193 in the last 30 days; 1,503 as pilot in command; 1,255 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J365D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Embry-Riddle Aero University
The flight
- Departed from: PRC Prescott AZ at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,500 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.