Probable cause
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot stated that after he joined the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 14, he flew the base leg and then turned onto final. He aligned the airplane with the runway centerline at 75 knots, with "two notches" of flaps. He reduced power just before crossing the runway threshold, and flared for landing. He then felt a loss of lift. He stated that, at the time, he was above stall speed with no stall warning indication. The airplane subsequently came down on the centerline and bounced four times, with the stall warning horn sounding after the first bounce. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed structural damage to the engine firewall. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane before the accident. Recorded winds at the airport about the time of the accident were from 190 degrees at 6 knots.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09CA363 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 31, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Destin, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Destin- Fort Walton Beach (DTS)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 182P
- N-number
- N1481S
- Category
- Airplane
- 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.