No fatalities

Private Pilot Lands Short on Grass Runway, Aircraft Destroyed by Post-Egress Fire

Mount Vernon, MO, United States

On October 8, 2008, a CESSNA 182P operated by Brent Kitchen was involved in an aviation accident near Mount Vernon, MO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot failed to maintain a proper landing aim point. Contributing to the accident were the setting sun and the uneven terrain approaching the runway. 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 private pilot landed short of runway 27 at a private grass airstrip, striking terrain 12 inches below the runway surface. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop. After the pilot exited, the aircraft caught fire and was destroyed; the pilot was uninjured.

Accident Overview

A private pilot was conducting a landing on runway 27 at a private grass airstrip. The sun was setting approximately 10 degrees to the left of the runway alignment at the time of the accident.

Sequence of Events

The pilot landed short of the runway, and the airplane struck terrain located about 12 inches below the runway surface. The landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the aircraft skidded to a stop on the runway. After the pilot egressed the airplane, it caught fire and was destroyed by the fire. The pilot was not injured.

Aircraft Damage

The airplane was destroyed by the post-egress fire.

Pilot Information

The pilot was a private pilot. No injuries were reported.

Environment

The accident occurred during sunset, with the sun positioned approximately 10 degrees left of the runway centerline. The airstrip was a private grass field.

Contributing factors

Causes

Descent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcomeEffect on personnel