Cessna TR182 accident near Bountiful, Utah, February 19, 1995
On February 19, 1995 at about 4:17 am local time, a Cessna TR182, registered N738NQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bountiful, Utah (Skypark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OF THE RUNWAY LIGHTING SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 1995 · about 4:17 am local time
- Place
- Bountiful, Utah · Skypark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 · all TR182s on the register
- Registration
- N738NQ · registry record · serial R18200945
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD ACTIVATED THE RUNWAY LIGHTS FOR THE DARK NIGHT LANDING. WHILE ON LONG FINAL, THE PILOT ALIGNED THE AIRPLANE WITH THE VASI LIGHTS, WHICH ARE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, UNTIL THE RUNWAY EDGE LIGHTS WERE VISIBLE. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCH DOWN, THE PILOT REALIZED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER THE GRASS AREA BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND THE TAXIWAY WEST OF THE RUNWAY, AND THAT HE HAD MISTAKEN THE TAXIWAY LIGHTS FOR THE RUNWAY LEFT SIDE EDGE LIGHTS. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN SOFT MUD COLLAPSING THE LANDING GEAR. THREE OF THE RUNWAY LEFT EDGE LIGHTS WERE OUT AND/OR BROKEN BEYOND THE VASI; THE FURTHEST BROKEN LIGHT WAS APPROX 1,300 FT DOWN THE RUNWAY.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 543 hours in all; 330 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 437 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,447 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 21, 1994; 26 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: PVU Provo UT at 3:30 am
- Destination: BTF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,700 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:17 am from SLC, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.