# NTSB LAX95LA307: Cessna 182Q, N759YV, Georgetown, CA, August 26, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 1995, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Georgetown, CA - Coordinates: 38.929759, -120.770896 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9298&lon=-120.7709&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29196 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA307 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29196/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA307 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswind conditions. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind - weather condition - gusts - weather condition - turbulence,terrain induced - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID HE OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT 1,000 FEET ABOVE PATTERN ALTITUDE AND OBSERVED THE WIND SOCK POINTED DOWN RUNWAY 16. THE LOCAL FBO TOLD THE PILOT ON THE CTAF THAT RUNWAY 16 WAS FAVORED; HOWEVER, THE WINDS ON THE GROUND WERE VARIABLE AND GUSTY. THE PILOT ENTERED THE PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 16. HE SAID THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL CONDITIONS WHILE ON DOWNWIND OR BASE. ON FINAL APPROACH HE NOTICED THE WIND SOCKS AT THE DEPARTURE AND APPROACH ENDS WERE INDICATING DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND HE WAS CORRECTING FOR A LEFT CROSSWIND CONDITION. SHORTLY AFTER FULL FLAPS WERE SELECTED THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND DRAMATIC ALTITUDE LOSS. HE SAID HE ADDED POWER TO COMPENSATE FOR THE ALTITUDE LOSS AND WAS ABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT. AS HE FLARED FOR LANDING THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT; THE LEFT LANDING GEAR TOUCHED DOWN AND THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN ABRUPT TURN TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND INTO SCRUB TREES. RUNWAY 16 IS BORDERED ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE BY A SMALL HILLOCK NEAR THE APPROACH END AND SITS ON TOP OF A RIDGE IN A MOUNTAIN VALLEY. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 1995, at 1245 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N759YV, collided with trees and terrain following a loss of control while landing at the Georgetown, 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 incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and the three passengers on board were not injured. The flight originated at Napa, California, on the day of the accident at 1145 as a personal cross-country flight to Georgetown. In an interview, the pilot reported that he overflew the airport 1,000 feet above pattern altitude and observed the wind sock pointed down runway 16. During a conversation with the local FBO on the CTAF, the pilot said he was told that runway 16 was favored; however, the winds on the ground were squirrely. The pilot entered the pattern for runway 16. He said there were no unusual conditions while on downwind or base. On final approach he noticed the wind socks at the departure and approach ends were indicating different directions and he was correcting for a left crosswind condition. Shortly after full flaps were selected the aircraft experienced a sudden and dramatic altitude loss. He said he added power to compensate for the altitude loss and was able to arrest the descent. As he flared for landing the aircraft encountered a gust of wind from the right; the left landing gear touched down and the aircraft made an abrupt turn to the left. The aircraft then ran off the left side of the runway and into scrub trees. Runway 16 is bordered on the right-hand side by a small hillock near the approach end and sits on top of a ridge in a mountain valley. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N759YV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N759YV-2001-11-08), registration cancelled 2001-11-08, S/N 18266373, built 1978 (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: 18266373 - Airframe hours: 1068 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert A. Dickinson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 1994, 141 hours before - Departed: APC, NAPA, CA - Destination: Q61 - Airport: Q61, Georgetown, runway 16, 2,980 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 310 total, 171 in this make and model, 192 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19950826046349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950826046349A), Aug 26, 1995: Cessna 182Q, Georgetown, CA, Substantial damage. Lost control on landing due to a wind gust. Exited runway into trees. 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.