No fatalities

Gust of Wind Causes Hard Landing and Propeller Strike

Palm Springs, CA, United States

On June 3, 2015, a CESSNA 182Q Q was involved in an aviation accident near Palm Springs, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing and substantial damage to the firewall. 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

During landing flare, a gust of wind rotated the nose left. Pilot corrected with right rudder, resulting in a hard touchdown, multiple bounces, and propeller strike. Firewall sustained substantial damage.

Accident Details

A pilot reported encountering a gust of wind during the landing flare, which rotated the airplane's nose to the left. The pilot responded by applying right rudder correction. Subsequently, the airplane touched down hard, bounced three to four times, and the propeller struck the runway surface. The pilot maintained directional control and taxied to the ramp without further incident.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that no mechanical malfunctions or failures occurred that would have precluded normal operation. The flight was otherwise uneventful until the landing phase.

Wind Conditions

According to the pilot's report, the winds at the airport around the time of the accident were from 340 degrees true at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots. The runway heading was 310 degrees, indicating a crosswind component from the right.

Damage Assessment

A post-flight inspection revealed substantial damage to the firewall. No other damage was reported. The airplane was taxied to the ramp under its own power after the incident.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotIncorrect use/operation

Other contributing factors

Effect on operation