# NTSB LAX89LA306: Cessna A185F, N252W, Big Bear City, CA, September 8, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 8, 1989, 16:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Big Bear City, CA
- Coordinates: 32.720306, -117.149513 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7203&lon=-117.1495&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26498
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA306
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26498/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA306

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with weather, landing - roll
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - aborted landing - performed, pilot in command
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll

## Analysis

ADVISED BY UNICOM THAT RWY 7 WAS IN USE, ANTICIPATED WIND FROM NE. AFTER TOUCHDOWN HE FOUND WIND WAS FROM SW. PILOT ABORTED LANDING ATTEMPT, BUT LOST CONTROL AS LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. AIRPORT MANAGER REPORTED THAT LOCAL WIND DIRECTION WAS 'SQUIRRELLY' AND THAT THE WIND SOCKS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE RUNWAY WERE POINTING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. A DUST DEVIL WAS ALSO REPORTED IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT. PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED HE DID NOT OBSERVE WIND SOCK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N252W (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18503687
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Downey Construction, Inc.
- Registered owner: Downey Consturction, Inc
- Departed: MYF, SAN DIEGO, CA
- Destination: L35, BIG BEAR CITY, CA
- Airport: L35, Big Bear City, runway 7, 5,850 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 953 total, 288 in this make and model, 41 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 225° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point -0 °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 19890908034129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890908034129A), Sep 8, 1989: Cessna A185F, Big Bear, CA, Substantial damage. Lost control and ground looped landing downwind. UNICOM had given the runway. Pilot failed to check wind sock.

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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