On July 14, 1997, a Cessna 182G (registration N2164R) was involved in an aviation accident near Fresno, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare during a night landing, which resulted in a stall and subsequent nose gear impact. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A newly certificated private pilot with limited night experience misjudged the flare, causing a stall just above the runway and damaging the firewall upon nose gear impact.
What happened
The accident occurred during a night landing operation. The pilot reported that he misjudged the landing flare, which resulted in the aircraft stalling while still positioned just above the runway surface. Following the stall, the aircraft impacted the pavement on its nose gear.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed significant damage to the forward fuselage structure. The impact with the nose gear caused damage to the firewall and the structural elements located immediately behind it.
Findings
Contributing factors included the pilot's limited experience, having accumulated only 4.6 hours of total night time. The primary cause was the misjudgment of the landing flare leading to a stall.
Probable cause
The pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare during a night landing, which resulted in a stall and subsequent nose gear impact.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 14 Jul 1997 Cessna 182G accident near Fresno, CA?
A newly certificated private pilot with limited night experience misjudged the flare, causing a stall just above the runway and damaging the firewall upon nose gear impact.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 14 Jul 1997 involved a Cessna 182G, registration N2164R, at Fresno, CA.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare during a night landing, which resulted in a stall and subsequent nose gear impact.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…