# NTSB LAX98LA023: Cessna 182Q, N759TA, Hamburg, CA, October 24, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 24, 1997, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Hamburg, CA - Coordinates: 41.860389, -123.220512 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8604&lon=-123.2205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29986 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29986/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA023 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and overload failure of the nose gear. High terrain (obstruction) near the approach end of the runway was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - landing gear,nose gear - overload - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The pilot reported that during an approach to land, he did not recognize his excessive rate of descent until it was too late to avoid a hard landing. During the touchdown phase, the nose gear collapsed and separated. The aircraft slid until the spinner dug into the runway, and the aircraft nosed over. The pilot stated that he had previously made about 10 approaches to this runway in a Cessna 172; however, this was his first approach in a Cessna 182. Also, he said he was tired and may not have noticed the differences in approach performance between this aircraft and the one he had typically use. High terrain at the approach end of the runway required that the final approach be entered from a close-in left base. ## Factual narrative On October 24, 1997, at 1300 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182Q, N759TA, made a hard landing at an unnamed private dirt airstrip near Hamburg, California, and nosed over following collapse of the nose gear strut. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; however, neither the pilot nor his two passengers were injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight by the Sundance Flying Club when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Willows, California, at 1100. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The pilot said that he did not realize how rapidly the aircraft was descending until it was nearing touchdown. He added power but it was too late for him to prevent a hard landing. The aircraft bounced once on touchdown, then during rollout, the nose wheel separated and the oleo strut collapsed. The aircraft slid down the runway on the bottom of the engine cowling until the spinner dug into runway and the aircraft nosed over onto its back. The pilot stated that he had previously made about 10 approaches to this strip before the accident in a Cessna 172; however, this was his first approach in a Cessna 182. He indicated that he was somewhat fatigued and may not have been alert to the differences in the aircraft's approach performance. High terrain at the approach end of the strip requires that the traffic pattern be entered from a close-in left base. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N759TA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N759TA), registered now, S/N 18266236, 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: 18266236 - Airframe hours: 5018 - Engines: Continental O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Charles Cali, doing business as Sundance Flying Club - Registered owner: Leonard Katzman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1997, 47 hours before - Departed: WLW, WILLOWS-GLENN, CA - Airport: Private Airstrip, runway 6, 2,000 × 35 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 413 total, 22 in this make and model, 220 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MFR, 42 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 19971024031029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971024031029A), Oct 24, 1997: Cessna 182Q, Hamburg, CA, Substantial damage. Failed check high sink. Landed hard on nose gear and collapsed same. Spsinner dug in on slide. 182 nosed over. (.19) on October 24, 1997, at 1300 hours pacific… 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.