# NTSB LAX02LA301: Cessna 182G, N2443R, Paradise, CA, September 28, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 28, 2002, 09:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Paradise, CA - Coordinates: 39.740631, -121.609413 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7406&lon=-121.6094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviaiton Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55922 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA301 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55922/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA301 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare resulting in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing ## Analysis The pilot made a hard landing collapsing the nose gear and damaging the firewall. The pilot took off and turned to downwind for landing. He reported that he flew an uneventful and normal approach. He said that he touched down on the main landing gear, but the nose gear folded under the airplane as it touched down. An examination of the runway by the Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator revealed a skid mark on the runway at the touchdown point. He also observed gouges on the runway surface and chunks of displaced runway material. The nose wheel deformed and buckled inboard along one quadrant. The nose gear fork fractured in several places; these fracture surfaces were irregular and rough in appearance. The fork split along its lateral axis, and the aft half of the fork also split parallel to the longitudinal axis. The aft half of the nose gear collar and a section of the aft fork fractured and separated. The fork fracture surface angled about 45 degrees to the surface, and had an uneven and grainy surface. The firewall sustained upward crush damage, and was buckled. The bottom and sides of the fuselage were buckled aft of the main landing gear. ## Factual narrative On September 28, 2002, at 0915 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182, N2443R, made a hard landing at Paradise (Q88), California. Skydive at Paradise was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed Paradise about 15 minutes prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. This accident was initially recorded as an incident, but a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector upgraded it to an accident after examination of the airplane on October 8, 2002. The pilot stated that company policy required a test flight prior to the first jump load. The pilot took off and turned to downwind for landing. He reported that he flew an uneventful and normal approach. He touched down on the main landing gear, but the nose gear folded under the airplane as it touched down. The FAA accident coordinator examined the airplane and runway. He noted a skid mark on the runway at the touchdown point. He also observed gouges on the runway surface and chunks of displaced runway material. The nose wheel deformed and buckled inboard along one quadrant. The nose gear fork fractured in several places; these fracture surfaces were irregular and rough in appearance. The fork split along its lateral axis, and the aft half of the fork also split parallel to the longitudinal axis. The aft half of the nose gear collar and a section of the aft fork fractured and separated. The fork fracture surface angled about 45 degrees to the surface, and had an uneven and grainy surface. The nose strut displaced aft, and pushed up into the firewall and belly of the fuselage. The firewall exhibited upward crush damage, and it buckled. The bottom and sides of the fuselage buckled aft of the main landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2443R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2443R), registered now, S/N 18255543, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182G - Registry model: [Cessna 182G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182g) (registry code 2072716) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18255543 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Skydive In Paradise - Registered owner: James Schlerwitzauer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Q88, PARADISE, CA - Airport: Q88, Paradise Skypark, runway 34, 2,700 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 6, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 730 total, 300 in this make and model, 640 as pilot in command, 165 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KRBL, 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 20020928028179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020928028179A), Sep 28, 2002: Cessna 182G, Paradise, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On 28093PDT, a Cessna 182-G, N2443R, made a hard landing at Q88, CA. Skydive at Paradise was operating the aircraft under CFR 14 part 91. The cmml PIC,… 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.