Cessna 182Q accident near Hamburg, California, October 24, 1997
On October 24, 1997 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N759TA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamburg, California (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and overload failure of the nose gear. High terrain (obstruction) near the approach end of the runway was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 1997 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hamburg, California · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N759TA · registry record · serial 18266236
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during an approach to land, he did not recognize his excessive rate of descent until it was too late to avoid a hard landing. During the touchdown phase, the nose gear collapsed and separated. The aircraft slid until the spinner dug into the runway, and the aircraft nosed over. The pilot stated that he had previously made about 10 approaches to this runway in a Cessna 172; however, this was his first approach in a Cessna 182. Also, he said he was tired and may not have noticed the differences in approach performance between this aircraft and the one he had typically use. High terrain at the approach end of the runway required that the final approach be entered from a close-in left base.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 413 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 220 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,018 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1997; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,960 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WLW Willows-Glenn CA at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 2,000 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from MFR, 42 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.