# NTSB LAX94LA109: Cessna 182, N21106, Watsonville, CA, January 31, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 30, 1994, 18:20 local (Jan 31, 1994, 02:20 UTC) - Place: Watsonville, CA - Coordinates: 36.950508, -121.719253 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9505&lon=-121.7193&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28649 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28649/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA109 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY FAILING TO REMOVE THE PITOT TUBE COVER AND DELAY IN HIS REMEDIAL ACTION BY NOT BEGINNING TO STOP THE AIRPLANE UNTIL IT WAS ABOUT 1,000 FEET BEFORE THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE SOFT TERRAIN AND THE COLLAPSED NOSE LANDING GEAR ARE FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, takeoff - aborted - landing gear,nose gear - collapsed - landing gear,nose gear - overload - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT FAILED TO REMOVE THE PITOT TUBE COVER BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE DARK NIGHT ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE AIRSPEED WAS NOT REGISTERING UNTIL THE AIRPLANE WAS NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY. TIRE SKID MARKS BEGAN 1,042 FEET BEFORE THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN IT ENTERED THE SOFT CLAY TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. ## Factual narrative On January 30, 1994, at 1820 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 182, N21106, overran runway 20 and nosed over during the takeoff roll at Watsonville Airport (WVI), Watsonville, California. The pilot was beginning a night visual flight rules personal flight to San Martin Airport (Q99), San Martin, California. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated private pilot nor his passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported in a telephone interview conducted on January 31, 1994, that the airspeed did not register during the takeoff roll and he elected to abort the takeoff. However, the remaining runway was insufficient to stop the airplane on the runway environment. The airplane exited the departure end of the runway. The nose gear collapsed when the airplane entered the soft clay terrain and the airplane nosed over onto its back. The pilot further said that the engine was producing the required takeoff power. His post accident inspection of the airplane revealed that he did not remove the pitot tube cover during the preflight inspection. In addition, the pilot submitted the required Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. He reiterated his telephone statement in the report. He added, however, that he began to abort the takeoff with about 3,800 feet of runway remaining. Mr. James Friel, principal operations inspector, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), San Jose [California] Flight Standards District Office, conducted the on-scene investigation. Inspector Friel reported that the airplane's tire skid marks began about 1,042 feet before the end of the runway. The pilot also told him that he did not remove the pitot tube cover before departing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21106](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21106-2013-11-07), registration cancelled 2013-11-07, S/N 18261417, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 - Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18261417 - Airframe hours: 5332 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Schwab, Paul/Barbara - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 1993, 98 hours before - Departed: WVI - Destination: Q99, SAN MARTIN, CA - Airport: WVI, Watsonville Municipal, runway 20, 4,501 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,297 total, 748 in this make and model, 1,196 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 25 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 19940130001119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940130001119A), Jan 30, 1994: Cessna 182G, Watsonville, CA, Substantial damage. Failed remove pitot cover. Night flight. Noted near end runway. Aborted, skid off end. Folded nose gear. Nosed 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. --- 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.