# NTSB LAX02LA021: Cessna 182S, N2453A, Palm Springs, CA, November 6, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 6, 2001, 10:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Palm Springs, CA - Coordinates: 33.480651, -116.099647 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4807&lon=-116.0996&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flt Stnds Dist Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 53725 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53725/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA021 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control of the airplane after encountering a dust devil during landing roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - dust devil/whirlwind - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis After landing on the 6,799-foot-long by 150-foot-wide runway, the aircraft veered to the right into soft sand and nosed over. The student pilot reported the landing was a good landing on the main landing gear. She lowered the nosewheel to the runway and was rolling smoothly when the aircraft suddenly veered to the right. She input left rudder but was unable to stop the aircraft from veering off the runway into soft sand where it rolled about 150 feet and nosed over. The pilot suspected an unseen dust devil may have been involved. An automated weather observation, 16 minutes before the accident, reported a left-rear, quartering surface wind at 4 knots. Forty-four minutes after the accident the surface wind was a left crosswind at 3 knots. ## Factual narrative On November 6, 2001, at 1010 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 182S, N2453A, veered off the runway and nosed over during a touch-and-go landing at the Desert Resorts Regional Airport, Palm Springs, California. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The local area, instructional flight originated at 1000, and was operated by the owner under 14 CFR Part 91. VFR conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot told the Safety Board investigator that the accident occurred on her second touch-and-go landing on runway 35 (6,799 feet long x 150 feet wide). She reported the landing was a good landing on the main landing gear. She lowered the nosewheel to the runway and was rolling smoothly when the aircraft suddenly veered to the right. She input left rudder but was unable to stop the aircraft from veering off the runway into soft sand where it nosed over. She suspected an unseen dust devil may have been involved. An automated weather observation, 16 minutes before the accident, reported the surface wind was from 220 degrees at 4 knots. Forty-four minutes after the accident the surface wind was reported from 280 degrees at 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2453A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2453A-2006-07-11), registration cancelled 2006-07-11, S/N 18280807, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182S - Registry model: [Cessna 182S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182s) (registry code 2072701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18280807 - Airframe hours: 321 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph D. Dennis III - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 2001, 116 hours before - Departed: TRM, Palm Springs, CA - Airport: TRM, Desert Resorts Regional, runway 35, 6,799 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 56 total, 56 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: TRM ## 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 20011106029629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011106029629A), Nov 6, 2001: Cessna 182S, Thermal, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot performing solo touch and go at Thermal Airport, upon landing for the second time, gust of wind lifted aircraft (right side) pilot lost… 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.