No fatalities

Road Landing at Wrong Location Leads to Nose-Over During Takeoff

Gerlach, NV, United States

On August 6, 2008, a Cessna 182D was involved in an aviation accident near Gerlach, NV. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during takeoff initial climb. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot landed on a road intending to visit a ranch, but realized it was the wrong location. During takeoff, the airplane struck a fence and nosed over, sustaining structural damage to both wings.

Incident Overview

A pilot conducted a landing on a road with the intention of visiting a ranch. After exiting the airplane and walking to the ranch, the pilot determined that the landing had occurred at the incorrect location. The pilot returned to the airplane, performed a preflight inspection, and initiated a takeoff from the road.

Takeoff and Accident Sequence

During the initial climb following takeoff, the pilot reported a sensation that the airplane was sinking. Subsequently, the left main landing gear wheel struck a fence. The impact caused the airplane to nosed over, and it came to rest in an inverted position.

Damage Assessment

Both wings sustained structural damage as a result of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or its engine.

Contributing Factors

The pilot's account did not identify any mechanical issues. The event appears to have been precipitated by the decision to land on a road at an unintended location, followed by a takeoff from the same road that resulted in a collision with a fence.

Contributing factors

Causes

Altitude — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Fence/fence post