# NTSB LAX03LA046: Cessna 182Q, N735ZT, Pacoima, CA, November 11, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 10, 2002, 16:39 local (Nov 11, 2002, 00:39 UTC)
- Place: Pacoima, CA
- Coordinates: 34.25, -118.400001
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2500&lon=-118.4000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 56182
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56182/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA046

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush and hard landing.  A factor in the accident was the gusty wind.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - flare - improper, pilot in command

## Analysis

While on short final for runway 30, the airplane dropped hard onto the runway.  Post accident inspection revealed firewall damage.  Winds at the time were reported from 320 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 19 knots.

## Factual narrative

On November 10, 2002, at 1639 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 182Q, N735ZT, made a hard landing at Whiteman Field, Pacoima, California.  The 3D Aircraft Corporation was operating the rental airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The personal cross-country flight departed Palm Springs, California, about 1500, en route to Pacoima.  Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot stated that the winds were high and there was a slight crosswind.  He was on short final for runway 30 when the airplane dropped hard to the runway.  There was not any visible damage to the airplane, but firewall damage was later discovered by a mechanic.

At 1630, the Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) for Burbank Airport (BUR), located about 10 miles southeast of Whiteman Field, reported winds from 320 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 19 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N735ZT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N735ZT), registered now, S/N 18265821, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 182Q
- Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18265824
- Airframe hours: 4010
- Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: 3D Aircraft Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 26, 2002, 70 hours before
- Departed: PSP, PALM SPRINGS, CA
- Destination: WHP, PACOIMA, CA
- Airport: WHP, Whiteman, runway 30, 4,100 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 8, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 621 total, 60 in this make and model, 525 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: BUR, 10 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 20021110032819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021110032819A), Nov 10, 2002: Cessna 182Q, Los Angeles, CA, Substantial damage. (.19) On November 10, 2002, about 1639 pacific standard time, a Cessna 182Q, N735ZT, made a hard landing at Whiteman field, pacoima, California. The 3D…

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.