# Accident 20010721016889A: Cessna A185F, Visalia, CA, July 21, 2001 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 21, 2001, 18:30 local time - Place: Visalia, CA - Airport: Private - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 36.2897° N, 119.3807° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2897&lon=-119.3807&mi=10 - Aircraft: N1728R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1728R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna A185F (registry code 2072821, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Reported engine: CONT IO520D - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 8,782 total, 437 in this make and model, 133 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA257) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010721016889A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON JULY 21, 2001, ABOUT 1830 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 185F, N1728R, NOSED OVER AFTER IT COLLIDED WITH CROPS AND VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING NEAR VISALIA, CALIFORNIA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT/OWNER WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE LOCAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT DEPARTED VISALIA ABOUT 1820 EN ROUTE TO EXITER, CALIFORNIA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE PILOT STATED HE NOTICED THE CYLINDER TEMPERATURE RISING. HE DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT A FRIEND'S GRASS STRIP WHERE HE HAD LANDED BEFORE. HE SAID THE STRIP WAS ABOUT 50 FEET WIDE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED 8-FOOT-HIGH CORN STALKS. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT, DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, AND NOSED OVER. THE RIGHT WING AND EMPENNAGE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. (-23) PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT A FRIENDS LANDING STRIP THAT IS 1300 FEET LONG BORDERED BY TREES AND CORN ROWS. AFTER T OUCHING DOWN AND BOUNCING HE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK THE CORN ROWS WITH THE RIGHT WING CAUSING A FURTHER IMPACT WITH THE CORN ROWS. AIRPLANE ENDED UP NOSING OVER AND THE RIGHT WING WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE WIND WAS LIGHT FROM THE NORTH AND THE AIRSTRIP WAS ORIENTED IN A WEST/EAST DIRECTION. NO INJURY TO THE SOLE OCCUPANT/PILOT. VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. (.4) ON JULY 21, 2001, ABOUT 1830 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 185F, N1728R, NOSED OVER AFTER IT COLLIDED WITH CROPS AND VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING NEAR VISALIA, CALIFORNIA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT/OWNER WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT DEPARTED VISALIA ABOUT 1815 EN ROUTE TO EXETER, CALIFORNIA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE PILOT STATED HE NOTICED THE CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE RISING. HE DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT A FRIEND'S GRASS STRIP WHERE HE HAD LANDED BEFORE. HE SAID THE STRIP WAS ABOUT 45 FEET WIDE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT WING TIP CONTACTED 12-FOOT-HIGH CORN STALKS. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT, DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, AND NOSED OVER. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SHEARED OFF WHEN IT HIT A BERM AND THE EMPENNAGE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. ## 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 LAX01LA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA257), Jul 22, 2001: Cessna 185F (N1728R), Visalia, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot failed to maintain clearance from crops which bordered the narrow runway. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.