Cessna 182 accident near Parowan, Utah, September 26, 2009
On September 26, 2009 at about 2:15 am local time, a Cessna 182, registered N1040D, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Parowan, Utah (Parowan 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare and recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2009 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Parowan, Utah · Parowan Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 A · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N1040D · registry record · serial 18281963
- 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 on his second landing approach in dark night conditions he observed that he was above the glide slope. As he approached the end of the runway, he "flattened out" his descent and landed flat, with all three tires hitting the runway simultaneously. The airplane subsequently bounced, and he "pushed in on the [control] yoke to get back down on the runway." The pilot stated that this made the second bounce worse than the first. He then tried unsuccessfully to pull back on the yoke to prevent the airplane from bouncing a third time. Because he feared another bounce would collapse the landing gear, he initiated a go-around by applying full power and beginning a gentle climb. He reported that the stall warning alerted at about 45 knots and that he "felt the left wing fall, which was followed by an impact with the ground." The airplane's left wing sustained substantial damage and there was no postcrash fire. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane prior to 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
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Stall warn/stick-shaker/pusher during approach (VFR go-around)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 242 hours in all; 19 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 10, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 659 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 1, 2009; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HND Henderson NV
- Destination: 1L9 Parowan UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from CDC, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N1040D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 WPR09CA469.