- 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.
On this page
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.
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.