# NTSB LAX95LA059: Cessna 185A, N101LL, Long Beach, CA, December 22, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 22, 1994, 08:17 local (16:17 UTC) - Place: Long Beach, CA - Coordinates: 33.809368, -118.179687 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8094&lon=-118.1797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29000 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29000/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA059 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft both during the landing and the attempted rejected landing maneuver. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON RUNWAY 25R IN A THREE-POINT ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND HE ADDED POWER, WHICH STRAIGHTENED THE AIRPLANE'S GROUND TRACK. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO REJECT THE LANDING. HE STATED THAT HE ADDED FULL POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO EITHER CLIMB OUT OF GROUND EFFECT OR PREVENT THE AIRCRAFT FROM DRIFTING LEFT TOWARD A LARGE COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT HANGAR. THE PILOT THEN PUT THE AIRCRAFT BACK ON THE GROUND AND IT GROUND LOOPED, DAMAGING THE WINGS. ## Factual narrative On December 22, 1994, at 0817 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 185A, N101LL, ground looped following a loss of control while landing at the Long Beach, California, airport. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his one passenger were not injured. The flight originated at the Chino, California, airport on the day of the accident at 0750 as a local area personal flight. According to the pilot, the aircraft touched down on runway 25R in a three-point attitude. The aircraft swerved to the right and he added power, which straightened the airplane's ground track. The aircraft then swerved to the left and the pilot elected to reject the landing. He stated that he added full power and the aircraft lifted off the ground. The pilot said he was unable to either climb out of ground effect or prevent the aircraft from drifting left toward a large commercial aircraft hangar. The pilot then put the aircraft back on the ground and it ground looped, damaging the wings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N101LL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N101LL-1995-03-10), registration cancelled 1995-03-10, S/N 1850484 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185A - Registry model: [Cessna 185A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-185a) (registry code 2072804) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-0484 - Airframe hours: 6568 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-VCF 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert J. Van Horn - Registered owner: Robert J. Van Horn - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 1994, 80 hours before - Departed: CNO, CHINO, CA - Airport: LGB, Long Beach, runway 25R, 6,192 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 710 total, 110 in this make and model, 619 as pilot in command, 59 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LGB ## 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 19941222044179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941222044179A), Dec 22, 1994: Cessna 185A, Long Beach, CA, Substantial damage. Veered sharply on three point landing. Tried go around but settled to runway and ground looped. ## Other investigations on N101LL (3) 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. - [NTSB DEN77DTE30](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN77DTE30), Apr 1, 1977: Cessna 185A (N101LL), Englewood, CO, substantial damage - [NTSB DEN76DTC09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76DTC09), Aug 3, 1975: Cessna 185A (N101LL), Casper, WY, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW71DPJ26](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71DPJ26-159710), Dec 9, 1970: Cessna 185 (N101LL), Buffalo, OK, substantial damage 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.