Cessna 182M accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, March 6, 2026
On March 6, 2026 at about 3:40 pm local time, a 1969 Cessna 182M, registered N71518, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Flagstaff, Arizona (Flagstaff Pulliam Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel’s decision to conduct an engine run at takeoff power in front of an active taxiway, and their failure to notify ATC, which resulted in the accident pilot’s loss of control during taxi due to an encounter with a jet blast.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 2026 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · Flagstaff Pulliam Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182M, built 1969 · all 182Ms on the register
- Registration
- N71518 · registry record · serial 18259650
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Cessna 182 reported that he had been cleared by air traffic control (ATC) to taxi to the runway for departure. During taxi down the airport’s only taxiway to the runway, the airplane encountered a jet blast from a parked CRJ 700. The airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The operator of the CRJ 700 reported that the airplane had just undergone repairs and their mechanics were functional testing the engines at takeoff power. The mechanics did not move the airplane away from the passenger terminal and did not notify ATC of their intent to perform the engine run. After the mechanics had brought both engines to takeoff power, the Cessna 182 taxied behind the CRJ 700 and encountered the jet blast. The Airport Planning Manual for the CRJ 700 identifies zones and distances that should be considered dangerous during engine operation. With maximum thrust set on one engine, the airplane can produce 60 mph jet blast 290 ft away from the engine. The estimated distance between the Cessna 182 and CRJ 700 was 240 ft at the time of the accident. According to the operator of the CRJ 700, the mechanics were required to contact ATC before beginning ground engine runs. The airport manager stated that there were no policies or procedures indicating what areas of the airport were designated for high power engine runs.
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
- Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Maintenance personnel
- Organizational issues › Management › Policy/procedure › Adequacy of policy/proc › Airport
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Ramp facilities › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 814.6 hours in all; 701.9 in this make and model; 77.2 in the last 90 days; 36.6 in the last 30 days; 768.1 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 27, 2025
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,758.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Northern Arizona 182 Flying Guys LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 am from KFLG, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFLG 061457Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR M02/M12 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP126 T10171117 51012 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – The Cessna 182, with substantial damage visible to the empennage and right wing, inverted near taxiway A6.
Photograph 2 – The Cessna 182 with the SkyWest CRJ700 visible on the left.
Photograph 3 – The CRJ700 on the commercial ramp.
Photograph 4 – An annotated diagram depicting the commercial ramp at FLG.The 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
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 22, 2026. 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 | Memoranda of Record | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Flg Airport Diagram | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Crj 700 Airport Planning Manual Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 5 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.