Cessna 182J accident near Sedona, Arizona, April 25, 2021
On April 25, 2021 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1966 Cessna 182J, registered N288GF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sedona, Arizona (Sedona airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 with a crosswind, which resulted in a collision with a fuel truck and a parked airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2021 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona · Sedona · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J NO SERIES, built 1966 · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N288GF · no longer on the register · serial 18257099
- 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, during landing he input 10o of flaps and placed the airplane in a slight/crab with aileron input to compensate for the crosswind. Just before touchdown, the right wing lifted, and the airplane landed hard with a side load on the left main landing gear. The airplane veered to the left and traveled into a dirt area between the runway and taxiway. The pilot applied full throttle to abort the landing however the airplane would not climb. The airplane sustained substantial damage after it struck a parked airplane and fuel truck; the left wing separated, and the airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 130 hours in all; 61.5 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 34.6 in the last 30 days; 60.4 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 19, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 420 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 16, 2021; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 420 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CHD Chandler AZ at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 5,132 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 am from KSEZ
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSEZ 251515Z AUTO 15006KT 10SM CLR 18/M01 A2999 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on October 12, 2021. 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 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Other Pertinent Forms and Reports - Crosswind | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | 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.