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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 10, 1997 · Cessna 182P · N182WJ

Arriba, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 10, 1997
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Arriba, CO
Aircraft
Cessna 182P
Tail Number
N182WJ
Operator
Michael Freilinger
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW97LA308

At the end of a cross-country flight to an unfamiliar private grass landing strip, the pilot performed a normal landing. The landing strip was soft, and when the pilot lowered the nose wheel to the ground during landing roll, it dug-in, and the aircraft nosed over. The owner's manual did not contain any procedure or information regarding soft field landings.

NTSB Probable Cause

failure of the pilot to properly plan the flight and determine the field conditions before landing. The soft runway condition was a related factor.

Full Narrative

On August 9, 1997, at 1800 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N182WJ, nosed over during landing roll at a private airstrip near Arriba, Colorado. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Englewood, Colorado, at 1700. According to the pilot, he flew a standard pattern and landed with 20 degrees of flaps and 70 knots airspeed. The airstrip was grass, soft, and when the nose wheel touched down during landing roll it dug into the soft ground and the aircraft nosed over causing damage to the engine/propeller, wings, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot said he was not aware the field was soft and he was unfamiliar with the facility. The Cessna 182 Owner's Manual does not contain soft field landing procedures or any other information pertaining to soft field landings.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 MDT
Nearest AirportArriba (Private) (0nm)
Runway17
Runway Length5000 ft
Runway Width65 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182P
Tail NumberN182WJ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMichael Freilinger
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-R15 · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 42 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data