# NTSB LAX85LA277: Cessna 172M, N6721H, Healdsburg, CA, June 16, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 15, 1985, 17:00 local (Jun 16, 1985, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Healdsburg, CA
- Coordinates: 38.630329, -122.890953 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6303&lon=-122.8910&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24742
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA277
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24742/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA277

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED HIS APCH WAS NORMAL BUT WHEN REACHING THE RWY THRESHOLD, THE DESCENT SEEMED TO STOP. THERE WAS A REPORTEDHEADWIND OF 30 KTS. HE THEN APPLIED FULL FLAPS. SECONDS LAT ER LIFT WAS LOST AND THE PLT APPLIED FULL PWR FOR A GO AROUND. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN AND BOUNCED. THE PLT STATED A GUST OF X-WIND CAUGHT THE ACFT AND IT WINDMILLED OFF THE RUNWAY, DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND INTO A GULLY WHERE IT NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6721H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 726555
- Airframe hours: 3421
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Louise . Peters
- Registered owner: Louise E. Peters
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 1984
- Departed: HHR, HAWTHORNE, CA
- Airport: 031, Healdsburg Municipal, runway 31, 3,000 × 35 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 715 total, 691 in this make and model, 657 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 106 °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 19850615070969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850615070969A), Jun 15, 1985: Cessna 172M, Healdsburg, CA, Substantial damage. Bounced on landing came down off runway and nosed over in a ditch. Gusty strong surface wind.

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.