# NTSB LAX06CA173: Cirrus SR-20, N1488C, Willows, CA, April 28, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 28, 2006, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Willows, CA - Coordinates: 39.509723, -122.217498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5097&lon=-122.2175&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63732 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63732/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA173 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudged landing flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. ## 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 - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane incurred structural damage during landing when the airplane entered a porpoise pilot induced oscillation and the propeller struck the runway. The student pilot was on the second leg of his solo cross-country flight. The approach to runway 34 was normal, but during touchdown the airplane porpoised. The pilot initiated an aborted landing, and flew the airplane to Red Bluff Municipal Airport where he landed uneventfully. He parked the airplane at the ramp and shut down the engine. The pilot inspected the airplane and found damage to the propeller resulting from ground impact during the porpoise. An inspection by maintenance personnel revealed structural damage. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2006, about 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Cirrus SR-20, N1488C, porpoised during landing at Willows-Glenn County Airport, Willows, California. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country instructional flight departed Stockton Metropolitan Airport, Stockton, California, about 1154, with a planned destination of Willows. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed. The pilot submitted a written report. His solo cross-country flight originated at Mc Clellan Airfield, Sacramento, California. After takeoff, he flew to Stockton, where he performed a full stop landing. He then flew the airplane to Willows Airport. The pilot stated that the approach to runway 34 at Willows was normal; however, the airplane porpoised after touchdown. He initiated an aborted landing, and flew to Red Bluff Municipal Airport where he landed uneventfully. He parked the airplane at the ramp and shut down the engine. The pilot inspected the airplane and found damage to the propeller resulting from ground impact during the porpoise. An inspection by maintenance personnel revealed structural damage. The pilot notified the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board on May 18, 2006. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1488C (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cirrus SR-20 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1329 - Airframe hours: 426 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-ES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Skyhawk Outdoor Advertising - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2005 - Departed: KSCK, Stockton, CA - Destination: KRBL, Red Bluff, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: WLW, Willows-Glenn County, runway 34, 4,506 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 72 total, 70 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: CIC, 24 nm away ## 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 20060428008629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060428008629A), Apr 28, 2006: Cirrus SR20, Willows, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot was on a solo cross country flight and was making an approach to landing at the Willows airport. The student stated that the landing was… 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.