Cessna 182F accident near Hood River, Oregon, August 20, 2012
On August 20, 2012 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 182F, registered N34SR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Hood River, Oregon (Ken Jernstedt Airfield). It was a personal 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 pilot's improper landing flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2012 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Hood River, Oregon · Ken Jernstedt Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182F · all 182Fs on the register
- Registration
- N34SR · registry record · serial 18255005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that, while making an approach to land, he observed that the winds were more variable and gusty than when he departed. He said that the airplane touched down and then became airborne again and began to “porpoise.” The pilot tried to regain control and stop the induced pitch oscillations, but landed hard on the nose gear, substantially damaging the firewall. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities with the airplane before the landing.
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
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 › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 50 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 24, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,873 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 2012; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Classic Wings Aero Services
The flight
- Departed from: 4S2 Hood River OR
- Destination: 4S2 Hood River OR
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 25, 3,040 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
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.