- Date
- October 8, 1994, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place
- Coalinga, CA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5061RCessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 5, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941008034349A
- Case key
- 28957
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the aircraft or the engine. He reported that on short final he encountered a downdraft and the aircraft touched down short of the runway. After a short roll in the dirt, the aircraft collided with the raised asphalt of the runway and nosed over. Ground witnesses at the airport stated that the winds were calm.
Factual narrative
On October 8, 1994, at 1320 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N5061R, collided with a berm during a landing undershoot at the Harris Ranch airport, Coalinga, California. The aircraft was operated by the pilot and was on a cross-country personal operation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and included calm winds. No flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. Neither the certificated private pilot nor his two passengers were injured. The flight originated at the Camarillo, California, airport on the day of the accident at 1210 with a destination of the Harris Ranch airport.
In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the aircraft or the engine. He reported that on short final he encountered a downdraft and the aircraft touched down short of the runway. After a short roll in the dirt, the aircraft collided with the raised asphalt of the runway and nosed over.
The pilot declined to complete a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5061R
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17263299
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Todd M. Gordon
- Registered owner
- Six One Romeo Flyers
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal
- Departed
- CMA · Camarillo, CA
- Destination
- 3O8 · CA
- Airport
- 308 · Harris Ranch, runway 32, 2,820 × 30 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 594 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 30 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.