# NTSB LAX96LA136: Cessna 182Q, N7583S, Avalon, CA, March 9, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 9, 1996, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Avalon, CA - Coordinates: 33.380481, -118.450691 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3805&lon=-118.4507&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 19, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29391 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29391/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA136 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. Factors relating to the accident were: a visual illusion due to rising terrain at the approach end of the runway, and the pilot's misjudgment of distance and speed during the approach to land. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rising (contributing factor) - visual illusion, pilot in command (contributing factor) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot reported that this was his first flight to Catalina Island and that he was unfamiliar with the airport. The wind was from 170 degrees at 8 knots, and the pilot elected to land on runway 22. There were steep cliffs on both the approach and departure ends of the runway. The first 2,000 feet of the 3,240-foot-long runway had a pronounced upslope gradient. The pilot said he made three attempts to land, but the aircraft was high and fast each time due to the an optical illusion that was presented by the upsloping terrain at the approach end of the runway. On the third approach, the aircraft touched down hard and bounced back into the air. The pilot said he then released back pressure on the control yoke and the aircraft hit hard on the nose wheel, damaging the propeller and firewall. ## Factual narrative On March 9, 1996, at 1300 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 182Q, N7583S, sustained substantial airframe damage during a hard landing at the Catalina Island Airport, Avalon, California. The aircraft was operated by Vista Aviation of Pacoima, California, and was rented by the pilot for a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The flight originated at the Whitman Airport, Pacoima, on the day of the accident at 1215 as a personal flight to Catalina Island. In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that this was his first flight to the island and he was unfamiliar with the airport. The airport sits on a mountain top with steep cliffs on both the approach and departure ends of runway 22. The first 2,000 feet of the 3,240-foot-long runway has a pronounced upslope gradient. The pilot said he made three attempts to land and was high and fast each time due to the optical illusion presented by the upslope runway. On the third approach, the aircraft touched down hard and bounced back into the air. The pilot said he then released back pressure on the control yoke and the aircraft hit hard on the nose wheel, damaging the propeller and firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7583S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7583S), registered now, S/N 18265232, built 1976 (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: 18265232 - Airframe hours: 3467 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Vista Aviation - Registered owner: Edwin M. Rivera - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 24, 1995, 58 hours before - Departed: WHP, PACOIMA, CA - Destination: AVX - Airport: AVX, Catalina, runway 22, 3,240 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 355 total, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F ## 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 19960309005849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960309005849A), Mar 9, 1996: Cessna 182Q, Avalon, CA, Substantial damage. Bounced on hard landing. Failed to recover. Hit nose first. Damaged prop and firewall. 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.