FTW97LA234

Factual narrative

On June 25, 1997, at 1430 central daylight time, a Cessna 182Q airplane, N96TJ, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing at Sugar Land Municipal Airport near Sugar Land, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the Sugar Land Jet Center Inc., of Sugar Land, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight which originated from Sugar Land, approximately 40 minutes prior to the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. According to the pilot, he intended to fly to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Approximately 20 minutes into his flight, the pilot reversed his course and returned to Sugar Land Municipal Airport due to weather. The pilot reported to the Investigator-In-Charge that he "flared the airplane too high" and "on returning to earth there was a loud crunch from the front nose wheel and the aircraft veered sharply to the left." The pilot added that the airplane crossed the taxiway and came to rest in a ditch on the east side of Runway 17. Postcrash examination of the airplane revealed that the firewall was damaged, both wings were bent, and the nose gear was bent aft subsequently damaging the fuselage structure. FAA records indicate that the pilot received his private pilot license on November 12, 1996. The pilot indicated on his NTSB's Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (6120.1/2) that he had approximately 125 hours of flight time and approximately 15 hours in this make/model. According to the pilot, he intended to fly to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Approximately 20 minutes into his flight, the pilot reversed his course and returned to Sugar Land Municipal Airport due to weather. The pilot reported that he 'flared the airplane too high' and 'on returning to earth there was a loud crunch from the front nose wheel and the aircraft veered sharply to the left.' The pilot added that the airplane crossed the taxiway and came to rest in a ditch on the east side of Runway 17. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12