Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

March 28, 2009 · Cessna 182Q · N97467

Sedona, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 28, 2009
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Sedona, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 182Q
Tail Number
N97467
Operator
Cody W Greaves
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR09LA168

While making a visual-flight-rules approach to a full-stop landing, the pilot was distracted by the thermal turbulence and inadvertently allowed his final approach to be high, long, and fast. He therefore executed a go-around. During the go-around the pilot did not feel the expected sinking of the airplane when he repositioned the cockpit flap control. Because he did not feel the sinking sensation, and because he had not visually confirmed the position of the flaps at any time since entering the pattern, the pilot incorrectly assumed that the flaps were not functioning properly. He therefore elected to make his second landing with the flaps still in the position they were at after the go-around (ultimately determined to be 10 percent). During the second approach he inadvertently landed about 80 percent of the way down the runway, and then attempted to stop the airplane with maximum braking. During the braking attempt, the brake on the left main gear did not provide any braking action. Before the pilot could get it stopped, the airplane departed the end of the runway, impacted a fence, and nosed over onto its back. A postaccident functionality test determined that the flaps were working properly. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the left brake system and determined that the left pedal master cylinder was low on fluid. The examination also determined that very little braking or pedal resistance was present when the brake pedal was pushed toward its applied position, and there was likely very little, if any, left wheel braking action during the pilot's attempt to stop the airplane after landing long.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to achieve the proper touchdown point during a full-stop landing attempt. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's failure to ensure that the aircraft was properly configured for landing, his not initiating a go-around, and a malfunction in one of the main landing gear braking systems.

Full Narrative

On March 27, 2009, about 1715 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182Q, N97467, hit a fence and nosed over after departing the end of the runway during a landing at Sedona Airport, Sedona, Arizona. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the airplane, which was registered to Linear Management Corporation, sustained substantial damage. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 cross-country positioning flight, which departed Cable Airport, Upland, California, about 1430 Pacific daylight time, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. During the investigation the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who assisted with the investigation both conducted follow-up interviews with the pilot in order to clarify the sequence of events that he provided on the day of the accident and in the narrative of the NTSB Form 6120.1 that he submitted. According to the information derived from these interviews, when the pilot entered the downwind for runway 21 at Sedona, he selected a flap position of ten degrees, but because he was distracted by nearby hilly terrain and the presence of thermal turbulence, he did not visually confirm the position of the flaps. According to the pilot, when he turned onto final, he selected a flap position of 30 degrees, but once again did not visually check their position because of the distraction created by the turbulence. He further stated that although he did not visually check their position, he assumed the flaps were at 30 degrees on final, and at that point in time did not suspect any anomaly associated with the flap system. As he continued his final approach, the pilot realized that he was coming in too high, fast, and long, so he decided to execute a go-around. At the beginning of the go-around he repositioned the flaps to the 20 degree position, but reportedly did not feel the sinking sensation that he normally associated with a partial retraction of the flaps. According to the pilot, because of the profile of his final approach, and since he did not feel the sinking sensation that he expected on the go-around, he thought that it was possible that the flaps might not be operating properly. Based upon that possibility, and because he had not visually confirmed their position at any time since entering the pattern, the pilot decided to leave the flaps where they were for the second approach. During the second approach, the pilot proceeded as if he were making a no-flap landing, establishing an airspeed on final around 70 to 75 knots. Reportedly, his flare during this approach was near the halfway point of the runway, and he eventually touched down at the 4,000 foot point of the 5,183 foot long runway. He then attempted to apply maximum braking, but the brake pedal on the left brake rotated forward to its fully applied position with almost no resistance, and no braking action occurred at the left wheel. The pilot then tried to stop the airplane with only the one functional brake, but was unable to do so before the airplane exited the end of the runway. After the airplane departed the runway, it impacted a perimeter fence and nosed over onto its back. An on-scene inspection found the flaps at 10 degrees. After the accident, when the pilot was advised by the FAA that they were going to go inspect the airplane, he stated that they would find the flap handle in the 10 degree position, and that he thought the flaps were probably at 10 degrees during the second approach. In a further interview with the NTSB IIC, the pilot stated that the flaps were most likely functioning properly during both of his approaches, but that the turbulence may have masked that fact. During a post-accident function test performed by the airplane's owner, the flaps operated normally in all selector switch positions. In addition, the pilot reported that since he had not flown this airplane before this flight, prior to departure he performed a functionality check on all the airplane's systems, and no anomalies had been found. As part of the investigation, an FAA Inspector inspected the left brake system, and it was determined that the left pedal master cylinder was low on fluid. It was also determined that very little braking or pedal resistance was present when the brake pedal was pushed toward its applied position, and according to the Inspector there was likely very little, if any, left wheel braking action during the pilot's attempt to stop the airplane after landing long.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:15 MST
Nearest AirportSEDONA (0nm)
Runway21
Runway Length5183 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 182Q
Tail NumberN97467
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorCody W Greaves
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · O-470 SERIES · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 29 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data