Cessna 182 accident near Moab, Utah, March 5, 2020
On March 5, 2020 at about 6:15 am local time, a 1956 Cessna 182, registered N4031D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Moab, Utah (Canyonlands airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and the airplane’s subsequent noseover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2020 · about 6:15 am local time
- Place
- Moab, Utah · Canyonlands · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 A, built 1956 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N4031D · registry record · serial 34731
- 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 performed a normal three-point landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, and, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right. The pilot corrected by applying left rudder, and, shortly after, the airplane "pulled hard to the right." Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane exited the right side of the runway onto soft gravel and nosed over, which resulted in structural damage to the fuselage. The pilot added that he believed the right brake was “dragging significantly.” Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right brake caliper brake line attachment fitting was bent outward, toward the wheel assembly, which allowed for a portion of the brake line attached to the fitting to contact the inner wheel assembly. Associated rub marks on the inboard wheel assembly were found, consistent with contact with the brake line sleeve while the wheel was not in motion, and likely resulted from the accident. No additional anomalies were noted with the right brake or wheel assembly. The accident is consistent with the pilot not maintaining directional control during 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,411 hours in all; 187 in this make and model; 216 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 7,033 as pilot in command; 1,706 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 8, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,269 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 25, 2019; 48 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGWS Glenwood Spring CO at 5:15 am
- Destination: CNY Moab UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 7,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 am from KCNY, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on January 27, 2022. 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, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Airframe Examination Summary | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array | PDF, 2 pages | 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.