No fatalities

Night Landing Accident Involving Wind Shear and Runway Excursion

Carson City, NV, United States

On May 20, 2017, a CESSNA T182 T was involved in an aviation accident near Carson City, NV. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s unstabilized approach during the landing flare and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. 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

On a night flight, a pilot experienced wind shear during landing flare, leading to a hard landing, propeller strike, and runway excursion. The airplane nosed over after the nose gear wheel burrowed into dirt. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.

Accident Summary

A pilot conducting a night flight to meet the night takeoff and landing experience requirements experienced an accident during the landing flare on the second approach. The airplane encountered wind shear, which caused it to deviate about 40° nose left of the runway centerline. The pilot attempted to correct to the right, but the airplane stalled and subsequently landed hard. The nose landing gear tire separated from the wheel, and the airplane bounced. After settling on the runway, a propeller strike occurred as the airplane slid off the left side. Following the runway excursion, the nose landing gear wheel burrowed into the dirt surface, and the airplane nosed over.

Damage

Substantial damage was sustained to both wings and the empennage.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The flight was conducted at night to comply with the experience requirements specified in Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 61.57(b).

Weather Information

The METAR reported wind from 050° at 8 knots around the time of the accident. Critical wind shear or low-level wind shear were not observed at any time during the day or night per the METAR on the date of the accident.

Contributing factors

Causes

Airspeed — Not attained/maintainedPilotIncorrect use/operationAngle of attack — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome