# NTSB LAX07CA276: Cessna 177RG, N1844Q, Compton, CA, September 16, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 16, 2007, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Compton, CA - Coordinates: 33.889999, -118.243614 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8900&lon=-118.2436&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, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66756 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA276 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66756/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA276 ## Probable cause the pilot misjudged the flare resulting in a hard landing and loss of aircraft control. ## 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) - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane landed hard, ballooned into the air, and rotated on its wing before coming to rest 180 degrees from its original direction of travel. The pilot reported that he was caught by a gust of wind during the landing flare. A witness to the accident reported that the airplane landed hard. When it came back down, the propeller blades struck the runway, and the airplane "cartwheeled" around 180 degrees. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he had configured the airplane for landing with full flaps. As he flared to land, a sudden gust of wind flipped the airplane over onto the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. The pilot reported to the FAA that he had flared for landing at 65 knots. He was about 2 to 3 feet agl when the airplane spun around, and came to rest facing the runway. A witness to the accident, a CFI, told the FAA that the airplane landed hard, and ballooned into the air in a nose high attitude. When it came back down, the propeller blades struck the runway, and the airplane "cartwheeled" around 180 degrees from its direction of travel. He noted that the winds were calm at the time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1844Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1844Q), registered now, S/N 177RG0244, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG0244 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: HHR, Hawthorne, CA - Destination: CPM, Compton, CA - Airport: CPM, Compton/Woodley Airport, runway 25L, 3,322 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total, 150 in this make and model, 411 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: HHR, 5 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 20070916020919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070916020919A), Sep 16, 2007: Cessna 177RG, Compton, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] stated that he was caught by an unexpected gust of wind from the south and he lost control during his efforts to… ## Other investigations on N1844Q (1) 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 LAX89LA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA208), May 30, 1989: Cessna 177RG (N1844Q), Sacramento, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT DISPLAYED POOR JUDGEMENT WHEN HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE TAXIING IN THE RUNUP AREA WHEN VISUAL LOOKOUT COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. 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.