Skip to content

WPR12CA300

2012-07-05 · Flagstaff, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport FLG

Current FAA registration · N5209P

Make / Model
CESSNA T182T
Year of manufacture
2002 · 10 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING TI0-540 SER (310 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20020711
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A68C8F

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s inadequate landing flare after encountering a downdraft, which resulted in a hard landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he configured the airplane for landing, and during the approach to the runway, he encountered a downdraft. The airplane touched down hard and bounced airborne. After bouncing down the runway twice, the pilot decided to abort the landing and maneuvered the airplane back into the traffic pattern for the same runway. He landed without incident and upon egressing the airplane, he noted that the propeller had struck the runway on his first landing attempt. The airplane sustained damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) for the airport around the time of the accident recorded a right quartering headwind at 13 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The pilot stated that he configured the airplane for landing, and, during the approach to the runway, he encountered a downdraft. The airplane touched down hard and bounced. After bouncing down the runway twice, the pilot decided to abort the landing and maneuvered the airplane back into the traffic pattern for the same runway. He landed without incident, and, upon egressing the airplane, he noted that the propeller had struck the runway on his first landing attempt. The airplane sustained damage to the firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) for the airport around the time of the accident recorded a right quartering headwind at 13 knots, gusting to 19 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Downdraft-Response/compensation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_WPR12CA300.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.