# NTSB LAX97LA290: Cessna 185, N1023F, Buckeye, AZ, August 14, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 14, 1997, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Buckeye, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.379074, -112.549682 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3791&lon=-112.5497&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29875
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA290
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29875/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA290

## Probable cause

The pilot's misjudgement of the clearance between the aircraft and the tree.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s)
  - evasive maneuver - performed, pilot in command
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,main gear strut - overload

## Analysis

The pilot intentionally touched down on the left side of the runway in order to miss a hole in the private dirt strip. During the landing roll, the left wing contacted a mesquite tree and the airplane spun around about 45 degrees to the left.  The airplane began to slide sideways which damaged the right wing and broke the right landing gear.

## Factual narrative

On August 14, 1997, at 1600 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 185, N1023F, landed alongside a private runway and hit a mesquite tree near Buckeye, Arizona.  The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot was not injured.  The airplane was operated by the pilot as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was not filed.

The pilot told the Federal Aviation Administration that he was landing to the left side of the runway in order to miss a badger hole.  The pilot said he "went over too much" so that when he flared for landing the left wing hit some branches of a mesquite tree.  This caused the airplane to spin around about 45 degrees to the left and the aircraft slid sideways, thus damaging the right wing and breaking the right landing gear.  According to the pilot, the airplane came to rest approximately 35 yards from the initial impact with the mesquite tree.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1023F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1023F), registered now, S/N 18502691, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 185
- Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18502691
- Airframe hours: 2033
- Engines: Continental IO-520-D 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles E. Bombardier
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 1997, 51 hours before
- Departed: GYR, GOODYEAR, AZ
- Airport: Pvt Dirt Airstrip, runway 18, 2,600 × 50 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 78; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 12,638 total, 4,380 in this make and model, 12,638 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 106 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GYR, 15 nm away

## 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 19970814022509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970814022509A), Aug 14, 1997: Cessna A185F, Buckeye, AZ, Substantial damage. Landed left side of strip to avoid badgerhole. Left wing hit tree. Spun left slid sideways. Broke gear. Bent wing.

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.