Cessna 182RG accident near Prescott, Arizona, March 19, 1995
On March 19, 1995 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Cessna 182RG, registered N9968C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona (Ernest A. Love Field). 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 failure of the pilot to extend the landing gear prior to landing. The failure of the pilot to use a before landing checklist was a factor in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 19, 1995 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Ernest A. Love Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182RG · all 182RGs on the register
- Registration
- N9968C · registry record · serial R18200493
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL, THE TOWER REQUESTED THAT THE PILOT MAKE A SIDE STEP APPROACH. THE PILOT SAID THE NEW INSTRUCTIONS DISTRACTED HIM AND HE FORGOT TO LOWER HIS GEAR. THE PILOT CONTINUED HIS APPROACH, LOWERING THE GEAR WHEN HE HEARD THE GEAR HORN. HE BEGAN TO GO AROUND, BUT CHANGED HIS MIND BECAUSE HE HAD FULL FLAPS AS WELL AS FEELING THE TAIL OF HIS AIRCRAFT CONTACT THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT USE A 'BEFORE LANDING' CHECKLIST.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,030 hours in all; 892 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,157 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 1994; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLG Flagstaff AZ at 6:20 pm
- Destination: PRC AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21R, 7,616 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:46 pm from PRC
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.