Cessna 182P accident near Woodland, California, June 17, 2012
On June 17, 2012 at about 7:36 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N7437Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Woodland, California (Watts-Woodland Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent path during the approach to land, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing, and his improper retraction of the flaps during the subsequent attempted go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2012 · about 7:36 pm local time
- Place
- Woodland, California · Watts-Woodland Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N7437Q · no longer on the register · serial 18261077
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was returning from a local area flight. After determining that the wind was calm, the pilot elected to conduct a straight-in approach. During the descent to the runway, the pilot realized that the airplane was higher than appropriate and extended the flaps to 40 degrees. He continued the approach and, when the airplane touched down hard on the runway, it bounced about 5 feet back into the air. The pilot decided to abort the landing rather than continue bouncing down the runway. The pilot added full power and retracted the flaps to 0 degrees. The airplane’s right wing rose and the left wing impacted the surface. According to the Cessna pilot’s operating handbook, during a balked landing, the flaps should be retracted to 20 degrees after full power is applied, and then retracted slowly after the airplane reaches 80 miles per hour. Postaccident examination revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › TE flap control system › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 191 hours in all; 42 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 12, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,147 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 2012; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F72 Franklin CA
- Destination: O41 Woodland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,770 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from SMF, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.