# NTSB LAX06CA272: Piper PA-28-181, N8068J, Coalinga, CA, April 8, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 8, 2006, 12:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Coalinga, CA - Coordinates: 36.247776, -120.237503 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2478&lon=-120.2375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 64409 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA272 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64409/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA272 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his inadequate recovery technique that led to a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear assembly - overload ## Analysis The airplane bounced during landing, followed by a hard touchdown, and the nose landing gear separated. As a result, the firewall buckled. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions and that the accident was purely operational. ## Factual narrative On April 8, 2006, at 1220 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA 28-181, N8068J, bounced during landing and separated the nose landing gear while landing at Harris Ranch Airport, Coalinga, California. Air Desert Pacific was operating the privately registered airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations 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 Chino Airport, Chino, California, at 1000, and was landing at his destination airport when the accident occurred. In a telephone interview following the accident, the pilot stated that the airplane touched down on runway 32 and bounced. As the airplane returned to the runway surface it impacted hard and the nose landing gear separated. The pilot stated that the accident was purely operational and there were no mechanical malfunctions. This accident was upgraded from an incident after verification of the airplane damage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector on August 30, 2006. The inspector reported that the firewall was bent during the accident sequence. There had been no attempt by the operator to remove the airplane from Harris Ranch Airport, and was presumed abandoned by airport personnel. According to the Chino airport manager, Air Desert Pacific ceased operations at Chino airport in April 2006. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8068J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8068J), registered now, S/N 28-8290084, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8290084 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Air Desert Pacific - Registered owner: Ari Lapin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CNO, Chino, CA - Destination: 308, Harris Ranch, CA - Airport: 308, Harris Ranch, runway 32, 2,820 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 200 total, 100 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles ## 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 20060408018889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060408018889A), Apr 8, 2006: Piper PA28181, Coalinga, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft was landing at Harris Ranch Airport when the pilot reported a cross wind as he touched down. The nose landing gear collapsed and bent aft… ## Other investigations on N8068J (2) 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 CHI93IA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93IA019), Oct 22, 1992: Piper PA-28-181 (N8068J), Chicago, IL, incident, no damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE MIDWAY ARSA CONTROLLER TO COORDINATE USE OF THE AIRSPACE WITH THE CHICAGO NORTH LOCAL CONTROLLER WHICH RESULTED IN AN OPERATIONAL DEVIATION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE INCIDENT WAS… - [NTSB MIA88LA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA166), May 4, 1988: Piper PA-28-161 (N8068J), Freeport, Bahamas, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent encounter with adverse weather. 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.