# NTSB LAX94LA120: Cessna A185F, N4833C, Valley Springs, CA, February 10, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 9, 1994, 16:30 local (Feb 10, 1994, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Valley Springs, CA
- Coordinates: 38.160007, -120.840324 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1600&lon=-120.8403&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 19, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28660
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28660/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA120

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was in the correct configuration for a water landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Gear not retracted, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - water
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

The pilot said that he had just recently purchased the aircraft and had completed 5 hours of instruction in it just before the accident flight.  The pilot reported that before he left for home he wanted to make one more water landing and flew to the New Hogan Lake Reservoir.  The pilot said he forgot to raise the wheels when he departed the San Andreas land airport, and on touchdown in the lake, the aircraft nosed over.

## Factual narrative

On February 9, 1994, at 1630 Pacific standard time, an amphibian equipped Cessna A185F, N4833C, landed in a lake near Valley Springs, California, with the wheels extended and nosed over onto its back.  The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.  The aircraft incurred substantial damage.  The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The flight originated at the San Andreas, California, airport on the day of the mishap at 1600 hours as a local area flight to the lake.

In a telephone interview, the pilot said he had just recently purchased the aircraft and had completed 5 hours of instruction in it just before the accident flight.  The pilot reported that before he left for home he wanted to make one more water landing and flew to the New Hogan Lake Reservoir.  The pilot said he forgot to raise the wheels when he departed the San Andreas land airport, and on touchdown in the lake, the aircraft nosed over.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4833C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4833C), registered now, S/N 18502601, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F
- Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 185-02601
- Airframe hours: 2146
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-550-D2B 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alberto G. Rossi
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1993, 67 hours before
- Departed: 0O3, SAN ANDREAS, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: NONE, Lake Hogan Seaplane Base

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,055 total, 92 in this make and model, 3,751 as pilot in command, 123 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °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 19940209002069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940209002069A), Feb 9, 1994: Cessna A185F, Valley Springs, CA, Substantial damage. New purchase amphibian. Forgot to raise wheels for water landing. 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.

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