Cessna 182 accident near Carlsbad, California, May 31, 2021
On May 31, 2021 at about 3:34 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 182, registered N47UP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Carlsbad, California (Mc Clellan-Palomar airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2021 · about 3:34 pm local time
- Place
- Carlsbad, California · Mc Clellan-Palomar · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 P, built 1976 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N47UP · no longer on the register · serial 182649594
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot reported that, during the approach for landing, she was slightly low and added power before touchdown. When the airplane touched down, it bounced, and she increased engine power. The airplane subsequently veered to the left. She then applied right rudder control, but the airplane exited the runway to the left and impacted runway signs. The engine mounts were substantially damaged. The student 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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 32 hours in all; 7.3 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 14.1 in the last 30 days; 0.3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,362.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 15, 2021; 14.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental D-470-S (piston); 1,363 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Superfast Skylane, LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 4,897 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from KCRQ
Weather report (METAR): KCRQ 311453Z 00000KT 6SM HZ OVC012 15/12 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP145 T01500117 51012
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 September 21, 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 | Accident 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.