# NTSB GAA20CA071: Cessna 182, N91846, San Luis, CO, November 12, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 11, 2019, 17:05 local (Nov 12, 2019, 00:05 UTC) - Place: San Luis, CO - Coordinates: 37.064998, -105.463607 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0650&lon=-105.4636&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100557 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100557/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100557 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA071 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper pitch attitude during landing on rising terrain in flat light conditions, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Light condition: flat light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 182M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072728), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing at dusk and into the setting sun, "flat light" conditions existed. The private, dirt airstrip increased in gradient as he landed to the west. When the airplane was about 75 knots airspeed, the pilot increased the flaps, attempted to bleed off airspeed, and touched down. He said the airplane landed hard "because…[he] literally did not see it coming." The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the lower fuselage, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during landing at dusk, and into the setting sun, he observed "flat light" conditions. The private dirt airstrip increased in gradient as he landed to the west. About 75 knots airspeed, the pilot increased the flaps, attempted to bleed off airspeed, and touched down. The airplane landed hard, "because I literally did not see it coming." The nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the lower fuselage and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91846](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N91846), registered now, S/N 18259931, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 182M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182m) (registry code 2072728) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18259931 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 3293.6 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2019 - Departed: ALS, ALAMOSA, CO - Destination: ALS, ALAMOSA, CO - Airport: 33CO, Melby Ranch Airstrip, runway 21, 7,400 × 40 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review May 6, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,779.6 total, 2,680 in this make and model, 2,710.1 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 0.6 in the last 30 days, 0.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KALS, 29 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20191111020689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191111020689A), Nov 11, 2019: Cessna 182M, San Luis, CO, Substantial damage. Accident occurred on 11/11/2019 at 17:05. Winds were calm to light from the west. Runway 3/21 ascends from north to south and is an unattended and unlighted… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100557. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 270 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.