# NTSB LAX04LA119: Cessna 182S, N2462X, Phoenix, AZ, February 6, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 6, 2004, 16:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.691665, -112.066665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6917&lon=-112.0667&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 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58733 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58733/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA119 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudged landing flare, which led to a hard touchdown and a porpoise. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear strut - overload - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane landed hard and porpoised down the runway. The pilot reported that after a normal approach and touchdown on runway 25R, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the runway and nosed over. A certified flight instructor in the traffic pattern behind and above the accident airplane observed the accident sequence. He reported that the accident airplane appeared fast and was not on a stabilized approach. After the airplane touched down, it began to porpoise, with each oscillation getting larger. A mechanic stated that there was no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. He said the airplane appeared to have sustained a hard landing. ## Factual narrative On February 6, 2004, about 1645 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182S, N2462X, veered off the runway following a hard landing at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), Phoenix, Arizona. Westwind School of Aeronautics 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 local flight departed DVT about 1530. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and a flight plan had not been filed. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that she was attempting to land on runway 25. After making a normal approach, she flared and touched down. The nose wheel collapsed and she was unable to maintain control, resulting in the airplane veering off to the right of the runway. She could not recall how hard the airplane had touched down on the runway surface, but noted that it did not seem abnormal. During a telephone interview with the IIC, the operator of the airplane stated that the airplane landed hard and veered off the right side of the runway, resulting in the nose landing gear collapsing. The airplane incurred damage to the firewall. In a written statement, a witness, who was a certified flight instructor, reported that he was flying with a student in the traffic pattern behind the accident airplane. He stated that as he turned onto final approach, he observed the accident airplane on short final. The airplane did not appear to be on a stable approach and seemed to be fast. He did not see the airplane make the initial touchdown, but witnessed it porpoise down the runway, with the nose wheel making contact first on each bounce. The porpoising appeared to get successively worse, and the airplane continued off the runway. An airframe and powerplant mechanic (A&P) assessed the damage to the airplane. He stated that there was no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. He said the airplane appeared to have sustained a hard landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2462X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2462X), registered now, S/N 18280791 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182S - Registry model: [Cessna 182S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182s) (registry code 2072701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Societe Ma SR305-230](https://openairdocs.org/engine/societe-ma-sr305-230) (registry code 59400, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18280791 - Airframe hours: 1835 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-A131A5 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Westwind Aeronautics, doing business as Westwind School Of Aeronautics - Registered owner: Visicor, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 29, 2004, 5 hours before - Departed: DVT, PHOENIX, AZ - Destination: DVT, PHOENIX, AZ - Airport: DVT, Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, runway 25R, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 103 total, 8 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: DVT ## 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 20040206003609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040206003609A), Feb 6, 2004: Cessna 182S, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was approaching to land into the sun. Pilot stated that landing was hard although she is unsure of the actual attitude of the aircraft at touch… ## Other investigations on N2462X (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN80FQA07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN80FQA07), Nov 4, 1979: Cessna 182 (N2462X), Dexter, NM, substantial damage 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.