# NTSB LAX01LA257: Cessna 185F, N1728R, Visalia, CA, July 22, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 21, 2001, 18:30 local (Jul 22, 2001, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Visalia, CA
- Coordinates: 36.289688, -119.380683 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2897&lon=-119.3807&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
- NTSB case key (mKey): 52802
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA257
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52802/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA257

## Probable cause

The pilot failed to maintain clearance from crops which bordered the narrow runway.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - narrow
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - crop
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - separation
  - terrain condition - berm

## Analysis

The pilot noticed the cylinder head temperature rising.  He decided to make a precautionary landing at a friend's grass strip where he had landed before.  During the landing roll on the 45-foot-wide runway, the left wing tip contacted 12-foot-high corn stalks.  The airplane veered to the left, departed the runway, and overturned.  The right main landing gear sheared off when the airplane hit a berm.

## Factual narrative

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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1728R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1728R), registered now, S/N 18502449, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 185F
- Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18502449
- Airframe hours: 4148
- Engines: Teledyne Cont IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mark Daily
- Registered owner: Agriflight, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 17, 2001, 67 hours before
- Departed: VIS, Visalia, CA
- Destination: 063, Exeter, CA
- Airport: NONE, Private, runway 27, 1,300 × 45 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 1, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 8,782 total, 437 in this make and model, 8,631 as pilot in command, 133 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observed at: VIS

## 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 20010721016889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010721016889A), Jul 21, 2001: Cessna A185F, Visalia, CA, Substantial damage. (.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…

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.

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