Cessna 182A accident near Santa Monica, California, September 5, 1992
On September 5, 1992 at about 9:41 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N54566, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Monica, California (Santa Monica airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE THE PILOT'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH; HIS FAILURE TO SELECT THE PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT; AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1992 · about 9:41 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Monica, California · Santa Monica · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N54566 · no longer on the register · serial 051715
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE WHEEL STRUCK 9 INCHES BELOW THE RUNWAY, SHEARING OFF THE NOSE WHEEL CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO NOSE OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE PILOT WAS PLANNING TO LAND ON THE NUMBERS. THE TERRAIN BEFORE THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD SLOPES UPWARD AND THE RUNWAY HAS A MINUS 1.2% GRADIENT. THE RUNWAY NUMBERS ARE LOCATED ON THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING A STRONG DOWNDRAFT, BUT THE SURFACE WINDS WERE ONLY 10 KNOTS. THE PILOT FAILED TO SELECT THE PROPER TOUCH DOWN POINT AND FAILED TO ADEQUATELY CORRECT THE SITUATION WHEN IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS GOING TO LAND SHORT OF THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT.
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: 650 hours in all; 320 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,086 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1992; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L70 Agua Dulce CA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 4,987 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:43 pm from SMO, 1 miles away
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.