# NTSB LAX08LA140: Cessna 182P, N4660K, Santa Maria, CA, May 15, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 14, 2008, 18:15 local (May 15, 2008, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Santa Maria, CA - Coordinates: 34.898887, -120.457496 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8989&lon=-120.4575&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68016 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68016/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA140 ## Probable cause The pilot's impairment from alcohol and his improper flare, which resulted in a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the FAA's failure to obtain additional information about the pilot's alcohol use history to verify that he met the requirements and standards for medical certification. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: alcohol](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 87 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md) - [Enforcement: regulatory requirements](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04034020): Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring · FAA/Regulator (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04034020/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04034020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis After returning from a 55-minute local area flight, the airplane touched down on the main landing gear and bounced repeatedly until the nose landing gear collapsed. Results of breath alcohol testing performed after the accident suggested that the pilot’s blood alcohol content was likely near 0.30 percent at the time of takeoff. A review of the pilot's medical records maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated that the pilot had admitted to a prior DUI with driver's license suspension that occurred on August 21, 2006, and that the FAA had taken no action in response to the reported DUI. The pilot did not provide, and the FAA did not request, the arrest report from that DUI. That report, obtained by the NTSB, indicated a blood alcohol content of 0.10 and the possession of cocaine at the time of the 2006 arrest. Inspection of the airplane found that the engine firewall was wrinkled and the fuselage structure around the nose landing gear was damaged. ## Factual narrative "THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED MAY 15, 2009." On May 14, 2008, approximately 1815 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N4660K, sustained substantial damage following a hard landing at Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX), Santa Maria, California. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, personal flight, which had originated approximately 55 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that after returning from a local area flight, he informed the tower controller of his intentions for a left downwind, full stop landing. The pilot was given clearance and instructed that he was number two for landing. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down on the mains and bounced. The pilot added power to stabilize the landing, however, the nose gear collapsed. Witnesses to the accident reported that the airplane landed on runway 30 and bounced repeatedly until the nose landing gear collapsed. Inspection of the airplane found that the engine firewall was wrinkled and the fuselage structure around the nose landing gear was damaged. First responders to the accident site called for the on-airport law enforcement officer to respond to the accident site as they suspected that the pilot was intoxicated. Shortly thereafter, the Santa Maria Police Department tested the pilot for alcohol intoxication. The first breath test was conducted at 1933, and resulted in a .24 percent blood alcohol content (BAC); a second breath test was performed at 1937, and resulted in a .23 percent BAC. The pilot was subsequently taken into custody. The pilot initially reported to law enforcement that he had a bad cold and had taken Vicks Cold Medicine that morning. In the pilot's statement to the National Transporation Safety Board, the pilot reported that he had been taking a cold medicine that had been given to him as a Christmas gift, and he did not know the ingredients. He reported that it was a homemade mixture that came from Tennessee. A review of the pilot's medical records maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aerospace Medical Certification Division indicated that the pilot reported to the FAA a DUI with license suspension on August 21, 2006. No records were found indicating that any details of the license suspension were provided by the pilot or that such details were pursued by the FAA prior to the aircraft accident. No FAA action was noted in response to the reported DUI. The arrest report for that DUI was obtained by the NTSB and indicated a blood alcohol content of 0.10 and the possession of cocaine at the time of arrest. The pilot's most recent medical certificate dated April 14, 2008, indicates that on that application, the pilot indicated, "yes" in response to item 18.v. "history of any conviction(s) involving driving while intoxicated by, whileimpaired by, or while under the influence of alcohol or a drug...." He gave no further explanations. There is no further information dated prior to the accident in the FAA medical records regarding the pilot's prior history of driving while intoxicated, and no indications that the FAA requested any additional information. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4660K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4660K), registered now, S/N 18263662 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182P - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18263662 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gregory S. Anderson - Registered owner: Gregory S. Anderson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SMX, Santa Maria, CA - Destination: SMX, Santa Maria, CA - Airport: SMX, Hancock Field, runway 30, 6,304 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2006; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 400 total, 350 in this make and model, 325 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SMX ## 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 20080514835979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080514835979A), May 14, 2008: Cessna 182P, Santa Maria, CA, Substantial damage. (-23)On 05/14/2008, the pilot of N4660K a Cessna 182-P contacted the Santa Maria airport tower requesting permission to takeoff. From initial contact the… ## Other investigations on N4660K (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 SEA78FYE19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78FYE19), Apr 20, 1978: Cessna 182 (N4660K), Spanaway, WA, substantial damage 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.