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Accidents · NTSB WPR23LA207 · Final report

Cessna 182Q accident near Kingman, Arizona, May 26, 2023

On May 26, 2023 at about 10:50 am local time, a 1978 Cessna 182Q, registered N94599, suffered minor damage in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Kingman, Arizona (Kingman Airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The failure of the passenger to adequately maintain a safe distance from the airplane’s propeller and the determination to let the passenger exit the airplane with the engine running.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
May 26, 2023 · about 10:50 am local time
Place
Kingman, Arizona · Kingman Airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 182Q, built 1978 · all 182Qs on the register
Registration
N94599 · registry record · serial 18266458
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot reported that on a night landing the airplane touched down smoothly on the main landing gear. During the landing roll, when the nose gear touched down, the airplane’s roll out became rough and bumpy. When the airplane came to a stop, the pilot and passenger discussed that they probably had a flat nose wheel tire. Subsequently, the passenger exited the airplane to examine the nose wheel tire and observed it to be flat. The pilot told the passenger to keep clear and then attempted to taxi clear of the runway. However, at a high-power setting, the airplane only moved a few feet, and the pilot elected to discontinue the taxi. The pilot was deciding what his next move would be when the passenger approached the airplane from the front. The pilot tried to warn the passenger but subsequently, the propeller struck the passenger and resulted in a serious injury.

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

  1. AC/prop/rotor contact w person during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments › Passenger
  • Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Damaged/degraded
  • Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on personnel
  • Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot

Pilot

  • Certificate: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 929 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 149 in the last 90 days; 92 in the last 30 days; 875 as pilot in command; 30 on instruments
  • Last flight review: February 2, 2023
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

Passenger

  • Seat: rgt
  • Injury: serious injuries

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 18, 2023
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: FLG Flagstaff AZ at 7:15 am
  • Destination: IGM Kingman AZ
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 17, 6,725 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: night
  • Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
  • Observation at 3:51 am from KIGM

Weather report (METAR): METAR KIGM 261051Z AUTO 17008KT 10SM CLR 16/M01 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP037 T01561011

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flig1
Passengers1

About this page

Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR23LA207.