# NTSB LAX92LA048: Cessna 182H, N3474S, Fortuna, CA, November 6, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 6, 1991, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Fortuna, CA
- Coordinates: 40.800544, -124.149391 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8005&lon=-124.1494&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 27, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27505
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27505/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA048

## Probable cause

THAT THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE ALTITUDE.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE THE FLIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND PASSENGER WHILE RECEIVING TRAINING FOR A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE CFI REQUESTED THAT THE PILOT EXECUTE A SHORT FIELD LANDING AT AN AIRPORT ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE CFI FAILED TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE THE FLIGHT AND THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE ALTITUDE BY BEGINNING THE FLARE AT ABOUT 20 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SUSTAIN A HARD LANDING DAMAGING THE PROPELLER, NOSE WHEEL AND AIRFRAME FIREWALL. THE OCCUPANTS WERE UNINJURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3474S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3474S-2009-10-29), registration cancelled 2009-10-29, S/N 18255874, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182H
- Registry model: [Cessna 182H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182h) (registry code 2072718) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18255874
- Airframe hours: 4994
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470R 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Symons, Stewven
- Registered owner: Greens Pharmacy, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 22, 1991, 17 hours before
- Departed: O16, GARBERVILLE, CA
- Destination: EKA, EUREKA, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: FOT, Fortuna, runway 29, 4,025 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 610 total, 270 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °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 19911106051939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911106051939A), Nov 6, 1991: Cessna 182H, Fortuna, CA, Substantial damage. On biennial flight pilot stalled aircraft 20 feet above runway on a short field landing demonstration.

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.