# NTSB LAX02LA244: Cessna 182P, N8290G, Mokelumne Hill, CA, August 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 2002, 15:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: Mokelumne Hill, CA - Coordinates: 38.333332, -120.166664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3333&lon=-120.1667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55378 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA244 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55378/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55378 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA244 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glidepath and failure to follow the manufacturer's recommended flap setting of 40 degrees, which resulted in an undershoot short of the runway. Factors include the runway's upslope and short length, which likely created the visual illusion of being high during the approach. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, landing - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - uphill (contributing factor) - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual illusion, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - flaps - not used, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The airplane collided with terrain short of the runway while landing at a private airstrip. The 1,100-foot-long runway has a 5- to 7-percent upgrade to the south. While making a left downwind approach for a short field landing, the pilot had selected 20 degrees of flaps. Just short of the runway, the airplane sank about 10 feet, and "one second" later, the airplane impacted a dirt bank 2 feet short of the north edge of the runway. The pilot stated that "more altitude on final, use of full flaps" could have prevented the accident. The pilot's operating handbook for the airplane calls for a 40-degree-flap setting on short field and normal landings. No mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane were reported prior to the mishap. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 2002, at 1505 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N8290G, collided with terrain short of the runway while landing at the Del Orto private airstrip, Mokelumne Hill, California. The airplane was owned and operated by Sacramento Aero Services, Inc., under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and rented by the pilot for a personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that originated at Auburn, California, at 1427, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that while making a left downwind approach for a short field landing, he had selected 20 degrees of flaps. Just short of the runway, the airplane sank about 10 feet, and "one second" later, the airplane impacted a dirt bank about 2 feet short of the north edge of the south runway. The main landing gear and the nose gear collapsed during the accident sequence and the airplane slid down the centerline of the runway coming to rest approximately 130 feet past the initial point of impact. No mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane were reported prior to the mishap. The 1,100-foot runway has a 5- to 7-percent upgrade to the south. Following the accident, the pilot stated that "more altitude on final, use of full flaps" could have prevented the accident. The Cessna 182P pilot's operating handbook calls for a 40-degree-flap setting on short field and normal landings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8290G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8290G-2003-05-29), registration cancelled 2003-05-29, S/N 18263362, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182P - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18263362 - Airframe hours: 5021 - Engines: Continental O-470 R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sacramento Aero Services, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 23, 2002, 6 hours before - Departed: AUN, AUBURN, CA - Destination: Mokelumne Hill, CA - Airport: PVT, Del Orto, runway 18, 1,100 × 24 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 29, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total, 8 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: KSAC, 40 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 20020802023489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020802023489A), Aug 2, 2002: Cessna 182P, Mokelumne, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft collided with terrain short of runway while landing. No mechanical problems reported. Pilot stated he encountered a down draft. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55378. 722 KB in all. - Miscellaneous; Excerpts from POH on shortfield landing procedures (item 1, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40185220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous;%20Excerpts%20from%20POH%20on%20shortfield%20landing%20procedures-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 529 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467914&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statement; pilot (item 3, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40186973&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement;%20pilot-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 4, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40186974&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Master.PDF - Witness Statement; witness at airport (item 5, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40186975&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement;%20witness%20at%20airport-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.