# NTSB LAX05CA111: Cessna 172A, N4682G, Emigrant Gap, CA, March 11, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 11, 2005, 12:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Emigrant Gap, CA - Coordinates: 39.274723, -120.709724 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2747&lon=-120.7097&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 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61145 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61145/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA111 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and his selection of an unsuitable landing area, resulting in an encounter with a snow-covered runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - snow covered - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - touch-and-go - attempted, pilot in command - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during a touch-and-go landing on a snow covered runway. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent when the airplane came to rest inverted. Upon arrival in the airport vicinity, the pilot flew over the airport three times. He noted that one end of the runway was visible and that the remaining 3/4 of the runway was covered in snow. Visually, the snow did not appear to be of any great depth. Based on the reported winds, the pilot decided to perform a touch-and-go on the snow-covered portion of the runway. As the airplane touched down, the landing gear entered the snow and the airplane nosed-over. The pilot noted no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The Airport Facility Directory Southwest (AFD/SW) contains the following entry, in part, for the accident airport: "CLOSED winters due to snow." The pilot reported that he reviewed the AFD/SW, but did not read the "Remarks" section. ## Factual narrative On March 11, 2005, at 1215 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172A, N4682G, nosed over and came to rest inverted on a snow covered runway at Blue Canyon-Nyack Airport, Emigrant Gap, California. West Valley Flying Club was operating the privately owned airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot departed from San Carlos Airport, San Carlos, California, at 1047 for the personal cross-country flight. According to the pilot, he planned a flight from San Carlos to Emigrant Gap using an electronic flight planner. At 0815, on the morning of the accident, the pilot checked DUATS and then called Rancho Murrieta Flight Service Station (FSS) and requested a standard weather briefing. The pilot departed and while en route to his destination, called Flight Watch to file a pilot report (PIREP) and to receive an additional weather briefing. Upon arriving in the airport vicinity, the pilot circled the airport three times. He noted that the runway 33 numbers were visible and that the remaining 3/4 of the runway was covered in snow. Visually, the snow did not appear to be of any great depth. Based on the reported winds, the pilot decided to perform a touch-and-go takeoff and landing on runway 15. As the airplane touched down, the landing gear entered the snow and the airplane nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted in the snow; the vertical stablizer and rudder were bent. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. The Airport Facility Directory Southwest (AFD/SW) contains the following entry, in part, for Emigrant Gap, California: "CLOSED winters due to snow." In a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that he reviewed the AFD/SW but did not read the "Remarks" section of the Emigrant Gap entry. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4682G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4682G-2007-11-21), registration cancelled 2007-11-21, S/N 17273308 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172A - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273308 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: West Valley Flying Club - Registered owner: Micro Publishing Press, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: KSQL, San Carlos, CA - Destination: BLU, Emigrant Gap, CA - Airport: KBLU, Blue Canyon - Nyack Airport, runway 15, 3,300 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 218 total, 30 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: BLU ## 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 20050311003219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050311003219A), Mar 11, 2005: Cessna 172N, Emigrant Gap, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot attempted a touch-and-go landing on runway 15 at Blue Canyon airport. Winds were 180 degrees at 5 knots. Last quarter of the runway was clear from… 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.