# NTSB LAX96LA163: Cessna 185F, N61905, Placerville, CA, April 8, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1996, 16:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place: Placerville, CA
- Coordinates: 38.730255, -120.799591 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7303&lon=-120.7996&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 6, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29414
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29414/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA163

## Probable cause

the CFI's failure to take adequate remedial action to preclude the loss of direction control during landing rollout.

## 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
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The commercial pilot had just purchased the conventional gear airplane from the CFI, and he desired a check-out.  The CFI talked the owner through the first landing.  Then, the CFI took the controls and planned to demonstrate performance of a three-point touchdown.  The CFI did not indicate that anything unusual occurred except the airplane veered right during rollout.  According to the CFI, he attempted to take corrective action by applying left rudder, but the airplane continued rolling to the right.  The airplane exited off the side of the runway, entered a dirt area, and nosed over. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were experienced.

## Factual narrative

On April 8, 1996, at 1615 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 185F, N61905, experienced a loss of directional control and nosed over while landing at the Placerville airport, Placerville, California.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the instructional flight.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  Neither the certified flight instructor (CFI), nor the airplane's owner was injured.  The flight originated from Placerville at 1600.

The owner held a commercial pilot certificate, and he had just purchased the airplane from the CFI.  The owner desired to be checked out with the airplane's conventional landing gear.  In the CFI's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he reported that he talked the owner through the first landing.  The CFI performed the second landing, and attempted to demonstrate a normal three-point touchdown.

According to the CFI, the airplane touched down on runway 23 in a three-point attitude, and then it veered to the right.  The CFI reported that he attempted to correct the action by applying left rudder, but the airplane continued rolling to the right.  The airplane exited off the side of the runway, entered a dirt area, and nosed over.  No mechanical failures or malfunctions were experienced.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N61905 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 185F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18504272
- Airframe hours: 3134
- Engines: Continental IO-520D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: J. Scott Connelly
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 13, 1995, 30 hours before
- Departed: PVF
- Destination: PVF
- Airport: PVF, Placerville, runway 23, 4,201 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,702 total, 34 in this make and model, 3,646 as pilot in command, 59 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 3 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

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.

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