# NTSB LAX95LA167: Cessna 182Q, N228PP, Palo Alto, CA, April 15, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 1995, 11:02 local (18:02 UTC) - Place: Palo Alto, CA - Coordinates: 37.449993, -122.099197 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4500&lon=-122.0992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 11, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29078 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29078/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA167 ## Probable cause inadequate compensation for wind conditions by the private pilot, and failure of the flight instructor (CFI) to ensure that directional control of the aircraft was maintained. The gusty/crosswind (weather) condition was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, dual student (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, flightcrew - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING ROLLOUT, AT THE CONCLUSION OF AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE ENCOUNTERING 'A STRONG GUST OF WIND (WHICH) PICKED UP THE LEFT WING AND LIFTED THE PLANE TO THE RIGHT.' THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN A WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, THE LOCAL WIND WAS '50 DEGREES OFF THE CENTER OF THE RUNWAY,' AND 'WAS CONSIDERABLY DIFFERENT THAN THAT WHICH WAS REPORTED ON THE ATIS.' THE INSTRUCTOR ALSO REPORTED THAT 'DURING LANDING ROLLOUT, A GUST OF WIND, POSSIBLY A DUST DEVIL, CAUGHT THE LEFT WING AND BEGAN LIFTING IT UP.' THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND EXITED THE RUNWAY DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE LEFT AILERON WAS FULLY DEFLECTED TO THE LEFT. ## Factual narrative On April 15, 1995, at 1102 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N228PP, landed on runway 30 at the Palo Alto of Santa Clara County Airport, Palo Alto, California. The private pilot reported that during rollout she lost control of the airplane upon encountering "a strong gust of wind (which) picked up the left wing and lifted the plane to the right." The airplane veered off the runway and was substantially damaged when a wing contacted the ground. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. Neither the certificated flight instructor nor the dual student was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the instructional flight which originated from Palo Alto around 0930. According to the flight instructor, the local wind was "50 degrees off the center of the runway," and "was considerably different than that which was reported on the (automated terminal information service) ATIS." The instructor further reported that during landing rollout a gust of wind, possibly a dust devil, caught the left wing and began lifting it up." As the airplane veered to the right and exited the runway, the left aileron was fully deflected to the left. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N228PP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N228PP-2013-09-25), registration cancelled 2013-09-25, S/N 18266162, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182Q - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18266162 - Airframe hours: 1250 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-U 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Patricia L. Pearson - Registered owner: Patricia & Paul Pearson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 1995, 11 hours before - Departed: PAO - Airport: PAO, Palo Alto Of Santa Clara, runway 30, 2,500 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,500 total, 90 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 14 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19950415010979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950415010979A), Apr 15, 1995: Cessna 182Q, Palo Alto, CA, Substantial damage. Wind gust picked up a wing landing. Left runway. Dragged a wing. CFI blamed dust devil. 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.