# NTSB LAX90LA261: Cessna 180B, N20KB, Red Bluff, CA, July 20, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 20, 1990, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Red Bluff, CA
- Coordinates: 40.129096, -122.429496 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1291&lon=-122.4295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26871
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA261
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26871/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA261

## Probable cause

AN IMPROPER LANDING FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING.

## 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)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence

## Analysis

A CESSNA 180B COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ON LANDING. THEN TOUCHED DOWN STRAIGHT IN A THREE POINT ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN TRAVELLED STRAIGHT FOR SEVERAL FEET AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK BOULDERS THAT BORDERED THE RUNWAY SHOULDER. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED AT THE FUSELAGE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN COLLIDED WITH A FENCE THAT PARALLELED THE RUNWAY. THE WINDS WERE CALM. THE PILOT INDICATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N20KB (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 50425
- Airframe hours: 3663
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470K 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aalgaard, Ray F.
- Registered owner: Ray Aalgard
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 1989, 52 hours before
- Departed: 3O7, HOLLISTER, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: NONE, Dye Creek Ranch, runway 15, 3,800 × 50 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 155 total, 87 in this make and model, 92 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RBL, 10 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 19900720030759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900720030759A), Jul 20, 1990: Cessna 180B, Red Bluff, CA, Substantial damage. Veered off runway after bounced landing. Impacted creek bank. Nearest wind indicates downwind. Pilot says wind calm

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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