Cessna TR182 accident near Maricopa, California, April 7, 1998
On April 7, 1998 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna TR182, registered N5460T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Maricopa, California (Private Strip airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudgment of the wind direction and speed, and, his inadequate compensation for those conditions. A factor in the accident was the short runway length, which limited the pilot's time to attempt a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1998 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Maricopa, California · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N5460T · no longer on the register · serial R18201872
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before landing at the private strip, the pilot noted a windsock approximately 1 mile to the north that indicated a light wind from the north. The pilot overflew the dirt strip and noted that the windsock indicated no wind, and he landed to the north. After touchdown, the pilot reported that a sudden gust of wind came up from behind the aircraft and he was unable to stop prior to overrunning the runway and encountering an embankment. The pilot reported that he had misjudged the wind's velocity too late to attempt a go-around. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical difficulties with the aircraft.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,700 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 9,500 as pilot in command; 1,174 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 6, 1997; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMX Santa Maria CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; scat at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from BFL, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.