# NTSB LAX05LA084: Cessna 172M, N472RA, Desert Center, CA, February 3, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 3, 2005, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Desert Center, CA - Coordinates: 33.743057, -115.235832 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7431&lon=-115.2358&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60964 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60964/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05LA084 ## Probable cause The instructor's improper decision to land on the dry lakebed without knowing the condition of the landing surface. A factor in the accident was the soft sand surface of the lake bed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during an attempted landing on a dry lake bed. During a cross-country instructional flight, the instructor attempted to demonstrate an off airport, soft field landing on a dry lakebed. The instructor had not previously planned to land on the dry lakebed and had no information as to the condition of the landing surface. The landing surface was softer than the instructor anticipated. During the touchdown, the main landing gear sank into the sand, and the airplane nosed over. The instructor stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Factual narrative On February 3, 2005, about 1330 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172M, N472RA, collided with terrain during an off airport, soft field landing near Desert Center, California. Stang-Air was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Brackett Field Airport, La Verne, California, about 1300, with the planned destination of Ernest A. Love Field Airport, Prescott, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. In a statement to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator in-charge (IIC), the CFI reported that while in cruise flight, he decided to demonstrate an off airport, soft field landing on a dry lakebed. The CFI had not previously planned to land on the dry lakebed and had no information as to the condition of the landing surface. The landing surface was softer than the CFI anticipated. During the touchdown, the main landing gear sank into the sand, and the airplane nosed over. The CFI stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N472RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N472RA-2008-02-20), registration cancelled 2008-02-20, S/N 17266910, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17266910 - Airframe hours: 6544.8 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stang-Air - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 1, 2004, 63.5 hours before - Departed: POC, La Verne, CA - Destination: PRC, Prescott, AZ - Airport: Dry Lake Bed ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 44; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 682 total, 184 in this make and model, 507 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: BLH ## 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 20050203002299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050203002299A), Feb 3, 2005: Cessna 172M, Desert Center, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft landed on a dry lake bed and flipped over. The aircraft departed bracket airport (poc), la verne, CA on a cross country instructional flight to… 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.