Event CEN12LA635

Factual narrative

On September 15, 2012, about 0815 eastern daylight time, a Cessna model 182P airplane, N58844, was substantially damaged while landing at Mecosta Morton Airport (27C), Mecosta, Michigan. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated from Greenville Municipal Airport (6D6), Greenville, Michigan, about 0800.The pilot reported that runway 21 had a displaced threshold of 460 feet, which resulted in an effective runway length of 1,550 feet. He stated that there was no appreciable wind during the landing attempt. He reported that the airplane bounced upon touchdown and that he initially believed it would settle back onto the runway without further incident. However, the airplane landed hard and bounced for a second time. The airplane then impacted nose first on the runway centerline, about 3/4 down the useable length of the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane slid on the forward fuselage about 40 feet before it nosed over onto its back. The fuselage, firewall, empennage, and both wings were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, he stated that he did not attempt an aborted landing because there were buildings located off the end of the runway, which he believed the airplane would not have been able to clear. The closest weather observing station was located at the Roben-Hood Airport (RQB), about 12 miles northwest of the accident site. At 0815, the KRQB automated surface observing system reported: calm wind, visibility 10 miles; sky clear, temperature 5 degrees Celsius, dew point 4 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.34 inches of mercury. The pilot reported that the accident occurred as he was attempting to land on a grass runway in calm wind conditions. He stated that the airplane bounced upon touchdown and that he initially believed it would settle back onto the runway without further incident. However, the airplane landed hard and bounced for a second time. The airplane then impacted nose first on the runway centerline, about 3/4 of the way down the useable length of the runway. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid on the forward fuselage about 40 feet before it nosed over. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, he stated that he did not attempt an aborted landing because there were buildings located off the end of the runway, which he believed the airplane would not have been able to clear. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Incorrect use/operation - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C