CHI04LA036

Factual narrative

On November 22, 2003, about 1310 central standard time, a Cessna 182R, N323KW, operated by the Civil Air Patrol, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on runway 12 (4,950 feet x 100 feet, wet asphalt) at Wausau Downtown Airport (AUW), Wausau, Wisconsin. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The private pilot and flight instructor reported no injuries. The local instructional flight originated from AUW about 1210 and was landing at AUW at the time of the accident. The pilot stated: On the last cross wind landing [using] runway [12] no flaps was holding 80 [knots]. Did a practice engine out on short final. The plane came to a stop when the power was pulled. Air speed was at 80 [knots] dropped to nothing, and then the plane [sunk] on to the runway. ... I was told [later] that [Automated Weather Observing System] reported wind gust up to 18 [knots] but no time was given. I do not know if I found that gust when power was pulled. The flight instructor stated: After reducing power I asked him if we were holding 75 [knots] ok and he said yes. Then all of a sudden the aircraft settled very fast and we hit hard and bounced and we were headed for the grass, the left side of the runway, I took the control wheel [and] kept us on the runway. At 1154, the recorded AUW weather was: Wind 040 degrees at 9 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition scattered 2,200 feet overcast 3,400 feet; temperature 0 degrees C; dew point -3 degrees C; altimeter 29.96 inches of mercury. At 1254, the recorded AUW weather was: Wind 060 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 5 statute miles; present weather haze; sky condition overcast 2,000 feet; temperature 0 degrees C; dew point -3 degrees C; altimeter 29.93 inches of mercury. At 1354, the recorded AUW weather was: Wind 050 degrees at 7 knots; visibility 2 statute miles; present weather mist; sky condition overcast 1,600 feet; temperature -1 degrees C; dew point -1 degrees C; altimeter 29.94 inches of mercury. The pilot and flight instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions associated with the flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage during a hard landing . The pilot stated, "On the last cross wind landing [using] runway [12] no flaps was holding 80 [knots]. Did a practice engine out on short final. The plane came to a stop when the power was pulled. Air speed was at 80 [knots] dropped to nothing, and then the plane [sunk] on to the runway." The flight instructor stated, "After reducing power I asked him if we were holding 75 [knots] ok and he said yes. Then all of a sudden the aircraft settled very fast and we hit hard and bounced and we were headed for the grass, the left side of the runway, I took the control wheel [and] kept us on the runway." Recorded wind at the airport was 060 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot and flight instructor reported no mechanical malfunctions associated with the flight. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12