LAX03LA086

NTSB accident investigation · Bellanca 14-19-2 · Oceano, CA · February 8, 2003

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 8, 2003, 09:50 local (17:50 UTC)
Place
Oceano, CA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N7686BBellanca 14-19-2
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 28, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20030208001579A
Case key
56476

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Ground loop/swerve
Nose overLanding
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The airplane experienced a loss of directional control and nosed over while on the landing roll. The airplane touched down in calm wind conditions. During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder pressure and right brake to counteract the veer. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and nosed over. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Factual narrative

On February 8, 2003, about 0950 Pacific standard time, a Bellanca 14-19-2, N7686B, veered off the runway and nosed over while on the landing roll at Oceano County Airport, Oceano, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed Santa Ynez Airport, Santa Ynez, California, about 0915, with the planned destination of Oceano. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 11 in calm wind conditions. The airplane touched down with a ground speed of about 60 miles per hour. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and veered to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder pressure and right brake to counteract the veer. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and nosed over. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

An aviation routine weather report (METAR) generated by an Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) at San Luis County Regional Airport, San Luis Obispo, California (located 8.2 nautical miles north of the accident site), indicated that about 4 minutes after the accident, winds were calm.

Aircraft

Registration
N7686B
Reported as
Bellanca 14-19-2
Category
Airplane
Serial number
4037
Airframe hours
1,805.05
Engine
Continental O-470-K, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Ronald J. Murphy
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 20, 2003 · 1.5 hours before
Departed
IZA · Santa Ynez, CA
Destination
L52 · Oceano, CA
Airport
L52 · Oceano County Airport, runway 11, 2,325 × 50 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
68
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
August 27, 2001
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,729 total · 1,230 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
55 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
30.07 inHg
Observed at
SBP, 8 nm away

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2004, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 403 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.