# NTSB LAX04CA183: Cessna 182C, N8872T, Garberville, CA, April 12, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 12, 2004, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Garberville, CA - Coordinates: 40.08472, -123.808052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0847&lon=-123.8081&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59045 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59045/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA183 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors in the accident were the terrain induced turbulent conditions, wind shear, a sudden wind shift, and a tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - turbulence,terrain induced (contributing factor) - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot lost directional control while attempting to land, and the airplane veered off the runway and nosed over. The pilot was attempting to land on runway 36. He descended to traffic pattern altitude and followed another airplane for a right pattern. On the downwind and base leg he did not have the runway in sight due to the mountainous terrain surrounding the airport. On short final the windsock and runway became visible. The airplane passed over the threshold and encountered moderate to severe turbulence with wind shear. The airplane touched down on the runway hard and bounced back into the air. The pilot looked at the windsock and noted a sudden 180-degree shift in the wind direction. The airplane floated in ground effect due to the tailwind conditions. He opted not to make a go-around because he thought that he would not be able to clear the mountainous terrain. The airplane touched down in a grassy area to the right of the runway. It continued to roll and encountered a descending embankment. The airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 360 degrees at 15 to 20 knots, with gusts and moderate to severe turbulence. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 2004, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182C, N8872T, veered off the runway and nosed over while attempting to land at the Garberville Airport, Garberville, California. The pilot/owner was operating the 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 Ukiah Municipal Airport, Ukiah, California, about 1500, with a planned destination of Garberville. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 36. When approaching the airport, he noticed a single engine Cessna in the traffic pattern. He radioed the pilot and confirmed wind conditions at the airport were down the runway with gusts and moderate turbulence. He descended to traffic pattern altitude and followed the Cessna for a right pattern. On the downwind and base leg he did not have the runway in sight due to the mountainous terrain surrounding the airport. On short final the windsock and runway became visible. The airplane passed over the threshold and encountered moderate to serve turbulence with wind shear. The pilot added power in an effort to counteract the loss of altitude he experience from the wind conditions. The airplane touched down on the runway hard and bounced back into the air. He looked at the windsock and noted a sudden 180-degree shift in the wind direction. The airplane floated in ground effect due to the tailwind conditions. The pilot opted not to make a go-around because he thought that he would not be able to clear the mountainous terrain. The airplane touched down in a grassy area to the right of the runway. It continued to roll and encountered a descending embankment. The airplane came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 360 degrees at 15 to 20 knots, with gusts and moderate to severe turbulence. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8872T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8872T-2006-04-17), registration cancelled 2006-04-17, S/N 52772, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182C - Registry model: [Cessna 182C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182c) (registry code 2072708) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52772 - Engines: Continental O-470 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Melvin Selinger ET.AL - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: UKI, Ukiah, CA - Destination: O16, Garberville, CA - Airport: O16, Garberville Airport, runway 36 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 425 total, 232 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day 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.