Cessna 182Q accident near San Bernardino, California, May 8, 2021
On May 8, 2021 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna 182Q, registered N54PW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near San Bernardino, California (San Bernardino Intl airport). It was a personal 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 pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and his subsequent inadequate pitch and airplane control during a go around which resulted in a nose landing gear collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 2021 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- San Bernardino, California · San Bernardino Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182Q, built 1979 · all 182Qs on the register
- Registration
- N54PW · registry record · serial 18266804
- 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 landing the airplane while in the right seat for the first time. During touchdown, the airplane landed hard and ballooned. The pilot then initiated a go-around and as he increased the engine power with his left hand, he also pushed forward on the control yoke with his right hand. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard again, the nose landing gear separated, and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Hard landing 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 › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 462 hours in all; 344 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 462 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 20, 2020
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,635.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2020; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,110 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-50 (piston); 482 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KRAL Riverside CA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: KSBD San Bernardino CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 06, 10,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 12:58 pm from KSBD
Weather report (METAR): KSBD 081958Z 25006KT 10SM CLR 25/08 A2998
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 4, 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 | Record of Phone Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Damage Photo | 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.