# Accident 19980628021629A: Cessna 180H, Ocotillo Wells, CA, June 28, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 28, 1998, 19:15 local time
- Place: Ocotillo Wells, CA
- Airport: Ocotillo Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.7195° N, 115.8804° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7195&lon=-115.8804&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4803E, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4803E) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180H (registry code 2072618, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180H
- Reported engine: CONT O470R
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 19,425 total, 1,223 in this make and model, 210 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA216) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980628021629A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

GROUND LOOPED AFTER LANDING ON A DIRT STRIP. (.4)AN INTERMEDIATE STOP WAS MADE AT ANOTHER AIRPORT TO PICKUP A PASSENGER BEFORE CONTINUING ON TO THE ACCIDENT AIRPORT. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED WITH THE LANDING AT THE INTERMEDIATE STOPOVER.  ON TOUCHDOWN AT THE ACCIDENT AIRPORT, BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER HEARD A SNAP SOUND, FOLLOWED SHORTLY BY THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TURNING UNDER THE FUSELAGE AND DEPARTING THE AIRCRAFT.  BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER STATED THAT THE LANDING WAS NORMAL.  EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALED THAT THE FAILED LANDING GEAR ATTACH BOLT WAS DISTORTED, WITH THE THREADS ON THE BOLT AND THE ASSOCIATED NUT STRIPPED.  THE EXAMINATION FURTHER REVEALED THAT THE LANDING GEAR ATTACHMENT HOLE WAS ELONGATED. EXAMINATION OF THE DIRT RUNWAY SURFACE REVEALED NO RUTS, POTHOLES, OR OTHER DEFECTS.  NO UNUSUAL TRACKS OR MARKINGS WERE FOUND ON THE SURFACE UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE RESTING POINT OF THE AIRPLANE.       (-23)ON JUNE 28, 1998, AT 1915 HOURS PDT, A CESSNA MODEL 180H, N4803E, EXPERIENCED A LEFT MAIN GEAR SHORTLY AFTER LANDING AT OCOTILLO WELLS, CALIFORNIA AIRPORT.  TJE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THERE WERE NO INJUR                              IES TO THE PILOT AND PASSENGER. VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIEM OF THE ACCIDENT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE ACCIDENT IS NOT RELATED TO A NMAC OR PILOT DEVIATION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA216), Jun 29, 1998: Cessna 180H (N4803E), Ocotillo Wells, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the left main landing gear due to a probable hard landing at an undetermined time.

## Other reports on N4803E (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19910428019279I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910428019279I), Apr 28, 1991: Cessna 180H (N4803E), Carlsbad, CA, Minor damage. Pilot clipped the rudder of a parked aircraft while taxiing from parking area.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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