# NTSB LAX98LA060: Cessna 180H, N123LJ, Santa Ynez, CA, December 13, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 13, 1997, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Santa Ynez, CA - Location: 34.6068° N, 120.0756° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SANTA YNEZ/KUNKLE FLD (IZA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6068&lon=-120.0756&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 30014 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30014/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA060 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare. Related factors were the crosswind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - crosswind component - exceeded ## Analysis Before landing the pilot overflew the airport and checked the windsock. He noted that the winds were at a direct 90-degree angle from the runway and gusting to approximately 35 knots. The pilot made repeated attempts to contact UNICOM, but did not receive a response. The airplane touched down hard and veered off runway 08. A pilot in the pattern behind the accident aircraft reported to a witness that he had heard the accident pilot attempting to contact UNICOM, and UNICOM's subsequent responses. The witness reported that the pilot made left-hand traffic for the runway, which has a published right-hand traffic pattern. The witness also reported that the winds were approximately 130 degrees gusting to about 35 knots. The person monitoring UNICOM reported to the witness that he did receive transmissions from the pilot and had reported airport advisories to him. After the accident the pilot reported to the witness that he would not have attempted to land at the airport had he been able to receive airport advisories from UNICOM. No mechanical difficulties were noted by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On December 13, 1997, at 1200 hours Pacific standard time, the pilot of a Cessna 180H, N123LJ, made a hard landing and veered off runway 08 at the Santa Ynez, California, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The owner/pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight that originated from the Van Nuys, California, airport at 1100. An official of the airport, who was a witness to the accident, reported that the pilot made left traffic for runway 08, which has a published right-hand traffic pattern due to noise abatement procedures. The witness observed the winds to be from approximately 130 degrees gusting to approximately 30-35 knots. The pilot stated to the witness that he made repeated attempts to contact UNICOM for airport advisories, but was unable to receive a response. It was reported to the witness that the person who was monitoring UNICOM received the pilot's transmissions and made repeated attempts to provide airport advisories to the pilot. A Cessna 210 was in the pattern for landing behind the accident aircraft and heard the repeated attempts by the pilot to contact UNICOM, and UNICOM's subsequent attempts to respond to the pilot. According to the witness, the pilot of the Cessna 210 elected not to land at the airport due to the airport advisories that UNICOM had broadcast. After the accident, the pilot reported to the witness that he would not have attempted to land at the airport had he been able to receive airport advisories from UNICOM. The pilot reported that the flight from Van Nuys to Santa Ynez was uneventful. He overflew the airport and checked the windsock, noting that the winds were at a direct 90-degree angle from the runway, and gusting to approximately 35 knots. The pilot reported that upon touchdown he landed hard and was unable to compensate with opposite rudder for the adverse crosswind condition. He further reported that there were no mechanical difficulties with the accident aircraft encountered prior to the landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N123LJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N123LJ), registered now, S/N 18051526, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180H - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051526 - Airframe hours: 5241 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arthur Wasserman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1997, 16 hours before - Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA - Destination: IZA - Airport: IZA, Santa Ynez Airport, runway 8, 2,804 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,079 total, 3,800 in this make and model, 4,079 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 28 knots, gusting 35 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °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 19971213041239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971213041239A), Dec 13, 1997: Cessna 180H, Santa Ynez, CA, Substantial damage. On December 13, 1997, at 1200 hours pacific standard time, the pilot of a Cessna 180H, N123LJ, made a hard landing and veered off runway 08 at the Santa Ynez,… 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.