Cessna 182F accident near Nephi, Utah, June 29, 2025
On June 29, 2025 at about 7:20 pm local time, a 1963 Cessna 182F, registered N3608U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Nephi, Utah (Nephi Muni airport). It was a glider-towing 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
A failure of the nose wheel steering shaft and subsequent rotation of the nosewheel which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2025 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Nephi, Utah · Nephi Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182F, built 1963 · all 182Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3608U · registry record · serial 18255008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Glider-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting glider tow operations and returned to land to pick up another glider. He reported that as soon as he touched down and lowered the nosewheel to the runway the nose gear collapsed. The firewall and lower fuselage were substantially damaged. A witness observed the landing and noted that the nose wheel was turned 90° when the airplane touched down. The pilot examined the airplane, and the nose wheel steering shaft was found fractured. The fractured steering shaft would have allowed the nose wheel to turn sideways prior to 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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear steering system › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,173 hours in all; 2,226 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 4,079 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 10, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,133 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O470-50 (piston); 693 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 6,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 am from KPVU, 30 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPVU 291756Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 27/08 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP151 T02720078 10278 20178 56005
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane at Accident Site
Photograph 2 – Damaged Firewall, Fuselage, and Steering Shaft
Photograph 3 – Fractured Steering ShaftThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on October 2, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Mor - Wreckage Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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.