Cessna 182Q accident near St. David, Arizona, June 3, 1999
On June 3, 1999 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182Q, registered N234TT, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. David, Arizona (Private Airfield). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate reference approach airspeed for the existing gusty wind conditions, and, his improper (uncoordinated) use of the pitch and power controls to arrest the resulting high sink rate.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1999 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- St. David, Arizona · Private Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N234TT · registry record · serial 18265820
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A 20-degree left crosswind at 10 knots with gusts to 16 knots existed for the approach to the short gravel airstrip. The pilot indicated that the approach was normal and that he carried an extra 5 knots of airspeed to compensate for the gusty wind condition that existed. At the approach end of the runway he reduced power and pitched the nose up for landing. He stated that the airplane experienced a greater than normal sink rate, which he tried to arrest with additional pitch control. The sink rate continued and then he added power; however, the airplane touched down short of the runway's approach end. The runway sits on a 3-foot rise, and when the airplane landed the nose wheel struck this rise and was sheared off. The nose wheel strut then dug into the gravel runway and the airplane nosed over. The airframe and powerplant were examined with no discrepancies noted.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,109 hours in all; 2,050 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 3,960 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,222 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 1998; 377 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U13B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,400 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from TUS, 36 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX99LA206.