# NTSB LAX04CA263: Cessna R182, N9108C, California City, CA, July 11, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 11, 2004, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: California City, CA
- Coordinates: 35.151111, -118.01667
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1511&lon=-118.0167&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 59639
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA263
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59639/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA263

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to lower the landing gear.  A contributing factor was the pilot's distraction while on final approach.

## Sequence of events

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

- Wheels up landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - gear extension - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot failed to lower the landing gear prior to landing.  While on final approach, an animal located near the runway distracted the pilot.  Due to this distraction, he failed to lower the landing gear.  The pilot did not hear the gear-up warning horn until the airplane touched down.  The pilot noted no mechanical problems with the operation of the landing gear.

## Factual narrative

On July 11, 2004, about 1045 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna R182, N9108C, experienced a gear-up landing at the California City Airport, California City, California.  The private pilot was operating the airplane, registered to a private company, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.  The airplane departed from the Whiteman Airport, Pacoima, California, at 1015, and was landing at the pilot's destination of California City.

The pilot reported an attempted landing to runway 06.  When the airplane was on final approach, an animal near the runway distracted him.  Due to this distraction, he failed to lower the landing gear prior to touching down on the runway surface.  The pilot did not hear the gear-up warning horn until the airplane touched down.  The pilot noted no mechanical problems with the operation of the landing gear.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9108C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9108C-2025-04-11), registration cancelled 2025-04-11, S/N R18200402 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna R182
- Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: R18200402
- Engines: Lycoming O-540 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Alvin Kosoff
- Registered owner: Coast to Coast Industries, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: WHP, Pacoima, CA
- Destination: L71, California City, CA
- Airport: L71, California City, runway 06

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 4,200 total, 950 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20040711014529I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040711014529I), Jul 11, 2004: Cessna R182, California City, CA, Minor damage. (-23) At approx. 10:45 LCL on 07/11/2004, alvin l. kosoff, as pilot in command, landed N9108C, a Cessna 182RG "gear-up" at California City airport (L71). There…

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.

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