# NTSB LAX99LA139: Cessna U206G, N756CF, Ramona, CA, April 4, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 4, 1999, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Ramona, CA - Coordinates: 33.07051, -116.829399 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0705&lon=-116.8294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46021 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46021/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA139 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin to compensate for the variable wind conditions existing at the time of the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - variable wind - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed(vref) - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - encountered ## Analysis The pilot said he flew to Ramona to practice takeoffs and landings. During the accident sequence, the aircraft was on short final and configured with full flaps at a normal approach speed when a very high sink rate suddenly developed. The pilot said he was unable to arrest the descent before colliding with the ground. He further stated that during the prior landings, the winds had been variable 10 degrees or more on either side of the runway heading and he believed he encountered a wind shear. The aviation surface weather observation (METAR) at Ramona taken 11 minutes after the accident reported winds from 260 at 7 knots, variable from 230 to 290 degrees. ## Factual narrative On April 4, 1999, at 1245 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna U206G, N756CF, collided with the ground short of runway 27 while landing at the Ramona, California, airport. The aircraft was operated by Pinnacle Aviation of Carlsbad, California, and rented by the private pilot for a local area personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. One passenger sustained minor injuries and the pilot and one other passenger were not injured. The flight originated at the Carlsbad airport on the day of the accident at 1200. In a telephone interview with a Safety Board investigator, the pilot said he flew to Ramona to practice takeoffs and landings. During the accident sequence, the aircraft was on short final and configured with full flaps at a normal approach speed when a very high sink rate suddenly developed. The pilot said he was unable to arrest the descent before colliding with the ground. He further stated that during the prior landings, the winds had been variable 10 degrees or more on either side of the runway heading and he believed he encountered a wind shear. The aviation surface weather observation (METAR) at Ramona taken 11 minutes after the accident reported winds from 260 at 7 knots, variable from 230 to 290 degrees. ## Aircraft - Registration: N756CF (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna U206G - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20603978 - Airframe hours: 2449 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pinnacle Aviation - Registered owner: Meyers & Pollard Pc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 1998, 58 hours before - Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA - Destination: RNM - Airport: RNM, Ramona, runway 27, 4,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 347 total, 50 in this make and model, 277 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RNM ## 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 19990404003019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990404003019A), Apr 4, 1999: Cessna U206G, Ramona, CA, Substantial damage. Acft stalled at approximately 30 feet AGL, landed hard, and the landing gear collapsed.(.19) on April 4, 1999, at 1245 hours pacific daylight time, a Cessna… 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.