# NTSB LAX06CA102: Cessna 182, N5421B, Black Canyon, AZ, February 4, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 4, 2006, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Black Canyon, AZ - Coordinates: 34.150001, -111.716667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1500&lon=-111.7167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (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): 63202 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63202/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA102 ## Probable cause the pilot's encounter with downdraft at low altitude on short final approach to land. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - downdraft (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven - Nose gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,nose gear - overload - landing gear,nose gear - separation ## Analysis The airplane's nose gear was broken off during landing at a dirt strip. The airstrip sits on a mesa with a 100-foot drop-off on the approach end. The pilot said he encountered a severe downdraft at low altitude over the runway threshold followed by the nose landing gear hitting a pothole at touchdown. The resulting overload caused the nose landing gear to separate. A post impact fire ensued and the airplane was destroyed. ## Factual narrative On February 4, 2006, about 1230 mountain standard time, the nose landing gear of a Cessna 182, N5421B, broke off while landing near Black Canyon, Arizona. A private individual was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane was destroyed. The cross-country personal flight departed Cottonwood, Arizona, about 1200, with a planned destination of an unidentified dirt strip near Black Canyon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The approximate global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the primary wreckage were 34 degrees 9 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 43 minutes west longitude. The pilot stated that he overflew the dirt strip two times to check the windsock. The winds were noted as light and variable. He then crossed over the airstrip at midfield and made a standard left traffic. The airstrip sits on a mesa with a 100-foot drop-off on the approach end. When he reached the threshold of the runway, he encountered a severe downdraft. He was 20 to 30 feet off the ground at the time. The aircraft hit the ground and the nose wheel landed in a large pothole, which tore it off. The airplane slid down the runway about 100 feet before coming to stop. The pilot saw a small fire coming through the passenger floorboard. He turned off the fuel and grabbed the fire extinguisher and they evacuated the airplane out of the passenger door. He attempted to extinguish the fire, ran out of fluid in the fire extinguisher, and decided to get out of the way in case of a possible explosion. There was no explosion and the airplane became engulfed in flames. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5421B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5421B-2007-12-20), registration cancelled 2007-12-20, S/N 33421, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 182 - Registry model: [Cessna 182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (registry code 2072702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33421 - Airframe hours: 4391 - Engines: Continental O-470L reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gregory M. Chapman - Registered owner: Gregory M. & Karen P. Chapman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2005, 70 hours before - Departed: P52, Cottonwood, AZ - Destination: Black Canyon, AZ - Airport: NONE, Black Canyon, runway 31, 1,290 × 25 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 10,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 20060204001939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060204001939A), Feb 4, 2006: Cessna 182, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Airman stated that during approach to land he encountered a downdraft at the approach end of the runway, forcing him to land sooner than anticipated. As… 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.