# NTSB LAX86LA305: Navion A, N111T, Grass Valley, CA, July 27, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 27, 1986, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Grass Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 39.180313, -120.979804 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1803&lon=-120.9798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25222
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LA305
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25222/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA305

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, go-around (vfr)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled
  - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

A NAVION A LANDED HARD ON RWY 01 AFTER AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE WAS LANDING TO THE NORTH WITH FULL FLAPS AND DISCOVERED HE HAD A GUSTING TAILWIND. HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND AND AT 50 FT AGL HE BROUGHT THE FLAPS UP HALFWAY. THE ACFT SETTLED AND LANDED HARD ON THE RWY. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 150 DEG AT 10 KTS 24 NM WEST ARPT. THE FLIGHT TRAINING HANDBOOK, ADVISORY CIRCULAR 61-21A, CAUTIONS PLTS ABOUT THE PREMATURE RETRACTION OF FLAPS DURING A GO-AROUND. IT STATES, 'CAUTION MUST BE USED IN RETRACTING THE FLAPS. DEPENDING ON THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE AND AIR SPEED, IT MAY BE WISE TO RETRACT THE FLAPS INTERMITTENTLY IN SAMLL INCREMENTS TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE AIRPLANE TO ACCELERATE PROGRESSIVELY AS THEY ARE BEING RAISED. A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE RETRACTION OF THE FLAPS AT A VERY LOW AIRSPEED COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF LIFT RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE SETTLING INTO THE GROUND.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N111T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N111T-2014-01-28), registration cancelled 2014-01-28, S/N NAV-4-140, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NAVION A
- Registry model: [North American NAVION A](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-navion-a) (registry code 6150132) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental E185 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e185-series) (registry code 17014, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: NAV-4-140
- Airframe hours: 4829
- Engines: CONTINENTAL E-225-4-I 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ronald H. Leeper
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 1985, 24 hours before
- Departed: O05, CHESTER, CA
- Destination: Q62, GRASS VALLEY, CA
- Airport: Q62, Alta Sierra, runway 1, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,094 total, 520 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MYV, 24 nm away

## 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 19860727035019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860727035019A), Jul 27, 1986: Tmpson NAVIONA, Grass Valley, CA, Substantial damage. The aircraft touched down hard during go around. The pilot attempted a downwind approach. Retracted flaps early.

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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