# NTSB LAX83LA264: Cessna 172N, N6669E, Columbia, CA, June 5, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 4, 1983, 17:05 local (Jun 5, 1983, 00:05 UTC)
- Place: Columbia, CA
- Coordinates: 38.109363, -120.379898 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1094&lon=-120.3799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 3 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23736
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA264
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23736/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA264

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE APPROACH TO RWY 17 HE USED 30 DEG OF FLAPS AND MAINTAINED AN AIRSPEED OF 55 KTS. WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TEN FEET AGL OVER THE RWY THRESHOLD A STRONG GUST OF WIND UPSET THE AIRCRAFT. HE LOST CONTROL AND TRIED TO GO AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE RUNWAY AND BOUNCED UP. WHEN IT IMPACTED THE RUNWAY THE SECOND TIME, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST ABOUT 3000 FEET FROM THE THRESHOLD. A WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO APPROACH THE RUNWAY A LITTLE TOO HIGH AND A BIT TOO FAST AND THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTH TO WEST. THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN WAS HARD. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED 6 FEET INTO THE AIR, TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN AND BOUNCED 20 FEET IN THE AIR. THE AIRCRAFT THEN APPEARED TO STALL AND IT FINALLY CAME DOWN IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND FLIPPED OVER. THE WINDS WERE ESTIMATED TO BE 10 TO 12 KTS WITH AN OCCASIONAL GUST TO 15 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6669E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17272048
- Airframe hours: 1762
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Skyway Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Byron R. Lais
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 12, 1983, 74 hours before
- Departed: SQL, SAN CARLOS, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 022, Columbia, runway 17, 4,060 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 134 total, 27 in this make and model, 68 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °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 19830604022809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830604022809A), Jun 4, 1983: Cessna 172N, Columbia, CA, Substantial damage. Bounced on landing in a wind gust. Lost control. Came down on nose wheel which impact folded. Nosed over.

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.

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