Cessna R182 accident near El Monte, California, July 18, 2014
On July 18, 2014 at about 2:39 am local time, a 1977 Cessna R182, registered N7571T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near El Monte, California (San Gabriel Valley Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 right main landing gear pivot assembly. Contributing to the accident was the owner's failure to perform an inspection of the assembly in accordance with the manufacturer's service bulletin.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2014 · about 2:39 am local time
- Place
- El Monte, California · San Gabriel Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182, built 1977 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N7571T · registry record · serial R18200040
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While performing practice instrument approaches, the certified flight instructor (CFI) and pilot under instruction noticed that the right main landing gear indicator light was not illuminated when the landing gear handle was down. A visual check by the CFI confirmed that the right main landing gear was not down and locked. The crew cycled the landing gear and attempted to pump the gear down using the emergency gear handle. Both procedures were unsuccessful in bringing the right main landing gear into a down and locked position. The flight crew landed the airplane on the runway with the left main down and the right main partially extended. The right horizontal stabilizer impacted the runway causing the airplane to veer right, off the runway, and substantially damaging the horizontal stabilizer. A post flight inspection by a airframe and powerplants mechanic determined that the landing gear actuator splined drive shaft had failed. Cessna Service Bulletin SEB11-02, issued in April 2011, recommended a one time inspection of the main landing gear steel pivot assembly. According to the mechanic, the airplane maintenance records do no show that the recommended inspection had been performed.
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 Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear actuator › Failure
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › Unscheduled maint checks › Not inspected
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,539 hours in all; 811 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 30, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 201 hours in all; 11 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 12, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,849 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-JC5D (piston); 3,795 hours total
- Operator: Aerp Association Of Cal Tech
The flight
- Departed from: KEMT El Monte CA
- Destination: KEMT El Monte CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,995 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 2:28 am from KEMT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 25, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1 - Right Rear View of Airplane | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.