Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during landing, which resulted in a porpoise and structural damage to the airplane.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that the airplane landed hard due to the uphill slope of the grass strip. He reported that at touchdown, the airplane porpoised, veered to the left, and the left wing impacted a tree branch. The pilot aborted the landing, departed the area, and landed at an airport without further incident. A postflight inspection revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, the left wing, the floor boards underneath the rudder pedals, and the firewall.
The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA16CA040 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Oct 23, 2015
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska
- Nearest airport
- Whiskey Lake Airstrip (None)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 182J
- N-number
- N3092F
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1966
- 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.