Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to extended to landing gear before landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that he was completing a local flight and was practicing an instrument approach. During the approach he observed several birds in his intended flight path, which distracted him multiple times, and he forgot to extend the landing gear. Due to the distraction, he also did not notice the landing gear warning horn. The airplane landed with the gear retracted and came to rest upright on the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN26LA038 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 5, 2025
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Brainerd, Minnesota
- Nearest airport
- Brainerd Lakes Rgnl (BRD)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna R182
- N-number
- N9054C
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1978
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.