Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing with a gusting wind.
NTSB analysis
The pilot stated that he flew over the airport and observed the windsock favoring runway 16 with a 5- to 8-knot crosswind. He made the landing approach with the right wing down, and had good directional control. The airplane was in the flare when it encountered two wind gusts that lifted the airplane and caused it to land hard twice. Upon the second hard landing, the nose pitched down and the airplane veered to the left, off the runway, over a taxiway, and impacted a hangar nose first. The pilot expressed concerns that the pilot's seat may have slid back during the landing. The seat and seat rails were in compliance with applicable airworthiness directives and were properly functioning. The right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR12CA169 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Apr 17, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Georgetown, California
- Nearest airport
- Georgetown Airport (KE36)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 182G
- N-number
- N3272S
- 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.