Cessna 182 accident near Santa Ana, California, December 26, 2017
On December 26, 2017 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1998 Cessna 182, registered N698MC, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Santa Ana, California (John Wayne Airport-Orange Coun). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to follow ground control instructions and to see and avoid ground obstacles while taxiing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 2017 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Ana, California · John Wayne Airport-Orange Coun · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 S, built 1998 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N698MC · registry record · serial 18280336
- 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 he was high on the approach for landing and partially focused on the tower controller's warning about heavy wake turbulence from landing jet traffic on the parallel runway. The airplane touched down about 1,800 ft or longer down the runway and subsequently ran off the end. The controller instructed him to turn around and exit the runway at taxiway Hotel; however, in confusion, the pilot turned toward the main terminal. The controller then instructed the pilot to make a 180o turn; however, he was now in the way of a taxiing incoming jet airplane. He moved the airplane to the left and subsequently struck an unmanned guard shack. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Runway excursion during landing
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Following instructions › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Residence/building › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 630 hours in all; 182 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 430 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 12, 2017
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO540-AB1 (piston); 25 hours total
- Operator: Hac Properties LLC
The flight
- Departed from: TUS Tucson AZ at 7:00 pm
- Destination: SNA Santa Ana CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20L, 2,887 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KSNA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 29, 2018. 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 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | 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.