Probable cause
The pilot did not extend the landing gear due to his impairment from alcohol.
NTSB analysis
The pilot failed to extend the airplane's landing gear prior to touchdown at the conclusion of a 2.5-hour cross-country flight. As the airplane slid to a stop on the runway, substantial damage was sustained to the belly skin and a bulkhead. Police officers who responded to the scene observed that the pilot exhibited slurred speech, slow reactions, and poor balance. Upon detecting an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the pilot, they administered a breath alcohol concentration test, which indicated the pilot had a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit for operating an aircraft. The pilot was subsequently arrested for flying under the influence of alcohol-liquor. Examination of the airplane’s landing gear and gear position warning system found that both systems functioned normally.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR10LA441 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 28, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Spanish Fork, Utah
- Nearest airport
- Spanish Fork-Springville (U77)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna TR182
- N-number
- N738MP
- 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.