NTSB GAA19CA064 — 2018-11-16 · Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Current FAA registration · N8903X

Make / Model: CESSNA 182D
Year of manufacture: 1961 · 57 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19610408
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AC482B

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N8903X Cessna 182 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during preflight, he did not observe any issues with the nose wheel tire. However, during landing touchdown at the destination airport, he felt something was wrong, so he pulled back on the controls. The airplane "left the ground for a few seconds" and landed hard the second time. He taxied to the ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 12 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 220° at 5 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 36R. The pilot reported that, during the preflight inspection, he did not observe any issues with the nosewheel tire. However, during touchdown at the destination airport, he felt something was wrong, so he pulled back on the controls. He added that the airplane "left the ground for a few seconds" and then landed hard the second time. He taxied to the ramp without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The airport’s automated weather observation station reported that, about 12 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 220° at 5 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 36R. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA19CA064.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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