Cessna R182 accident near Orlando, Florida, March 5, 1995
On March 5, 1995 at about 1:16 am local time, a Cessna R182, registered N47U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orlando, Florida (Orlando International airport). It was a business 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 failure of the pilot-in-command to insure the landing gear was extended before landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 1995 · about 1:16 am local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · Orlando International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N47U · registry record · serial R18201525
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he visually verified the landing gear was extended and observed a gear down light before landing. During landing the nose began to shimmy and the aircraft settled to the runway. The right front seat passenger stated the landing gear handle was in the up position after the aircraft came to rest. The rear seat passenger stated he heard a warning horn and observed a red light illuminated on the instrument panel during the landing. FAA inspectors stated the aircraft had damage which was consistent with the landing gear being retracted during the entire landing sequence. Damage on the runway caused by the aircraft extended 1,000 feet. After the aircraft was raised the landing gear extended normally and locked. Further testing of the landing gear indicated it operated normally after the accident.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 767 as pilot in command; 319 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,162 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 1994; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BHM Birmingham AL at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.