# NTSB LAX84LA274: Hall-Cavalier SA-102.5, N491HC, Palo Alto, CA, April 29, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 29, 1984, 14:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place: Palo Alto, CA
- Coordinates: 37.45018, -122.100547 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4502&lon=-122.1005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24247
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA274
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24247/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA274

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- Fire, other

## Analysis

DURING A LANDING, THE ACFT BOUNCED & PORPOISED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE NOSE GEAR FAILED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT SKIDDED TO A STOP ON THE RWY & A FIRE ERUPTED IN THE ENG COMPARTMENT. THE OCCUPANT EXITED THE PLANE, BUT MOMENTS LATER, IT WAS CONSUMED BY THE FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N491HC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HALL-CAVALIER SA-102.5
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 102.5-6850
- Airframe hours: 600
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Nolan Vickers
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: QQ3, SCHELLVILLE, CA
- Destination: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA
- Airport: PAO, Palo Alto Of Santa Clara, runway 30, 2,500 × 65 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 1,200 total, 7 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PAO

## 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 19840429017129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840429017129A), Apr 29, 1984: Amtrks CAVALIER102, Palo Alto, CA, Destroyed. Bounced and porpoised on landing. Impact broke off nose gear. Aircraft burned. Pilot and passenger not injured.

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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