# NTSB LAX85LA337: Cessna 172 M, N64033, Island Mountain, CA, August 2, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 2, 1985, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Island Mountain, CA
- Location: 40.0263° N, 123.4903° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Island Mountain, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0263&lon=-123.4903&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): 24788
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85LA337
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24788/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85LA337

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed(vso) - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Overrun, landing - roll
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

UPON ARRIVING OVER THE UNCHARTED, 2000-FOOT-LONG DIRT AIRSTRIP, THE PLT PLACED THE ACFT INTO LANDING CONFIGURATION & ATTEMPTED TO LAND. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD, BOUNCED 3 TIMES, 'FLOATED,' OVERRAN THE RUNWAY'S END, WENT INTO A DITCH & NOSED OVER. THE PLT STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS YEAR HE HAD LANDED AT THE AIRSTRIP & HAD NOT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N64033](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64033-1991-04-09), registration cancelled 1991-04-09, S/N 17264978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17264978
- Airframe hours: 5647
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: West Valley Flying Club
- Registered owner: Bruce Swartz
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 1985, 10 hours before
- Departed: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA
- Destination: CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: Miller Ranch, runway 24, 2,000 × 70 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 179 total, 30 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °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 19850802070989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850802070989A), Aug 2, 1985: Cessna 172M, Island Mountain, CA, Substantial damage. Landed long, bounced and floated before departing runway end. Nose dug into soft dirt and aircraft flipped 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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