# NTSB LAX94LA343: Cessna 195, N195LS, Palo Alto, CA, August 31, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 31, 1994, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Palo Alto, CA
- Location: 37.4611° N, 122.1150° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PALO ALTO (PAO), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4611&lon=-122.1150&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 18, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28845
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA343
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28845/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA343

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper use of the airplane's brakes during the landing rollout.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING LANDING ROLLOUT HE APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW THE AIRPLANE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE RUNWAY.  THE BRAKES HAD BEEN RECENTLY REPLACED AND THEY WERE VERY EFFECTIVE.  THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE TURN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND IT NOSED OVER.

## Factual narrative

On August 31, 1994, at 1230 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 195, N195LS, nosed over during landing rollout on runway 30 at the Palo Alto of Santa Clara County Airport, Palo Alto, California.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight, and the private pilot was not injured.  The flight originated from Porterville, California, at 1045.

The pilot verbally reported that during rollout he applied brakes to slow the airplane while turning off the active runway.  The brake(s) had recently been replaced, and they were very effective.  The pilot said he lost control of the airplane and it nosed over as he was attempting to exit the runway.

On September 23, 1994, the National Transportation Safety Board mailed the pilot the required "Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report" NTSB Form 6120.1/2 to complete.  Thereafter, the pilot was verbally requested to complete the form.  As of April 18, 1995, the Safety Board has not received the form.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported to the Safety Board that the pilot's last aviation medical certificate was issued to him on February 3, 1989.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N195LS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 195
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7857
- Engines: JACOBS R-755-A2 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Clyde M. Litton
- Registered owner: Clyde M. Litton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PTV, PORTERVILLE, CA
- Airport: PAO, Palo Alto, runway 30, 2,500 × 65 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; flight hours: 10,700 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PAO

## 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 19940831024419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940831024419A), Aug 31, 1994: Cessna 195, Palo Alto, CA, Substantial damage. Lost control during brake application turning off landing runway. Nosed over. New brakes more active than expected.

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.