# NTSB LAX99LA249: Cessna 185, N6XS, Beckwourth, CA, July 9, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 9, 1999, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Beckwourth, CA
- Coordinates: 39.509021, -119.989074 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5090&lon=-119.9891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 14, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 46807
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA249
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46807/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA249

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and subsequent failure to maintain directional control.

## 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
  - weather condition - dust devil/whirlwind
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command
- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear strut - overload

## Analysis

The pilot said he was landing on runway 25 and encountered a dust devil on touchdown.  The airplane veered off the runway and into the dirt area beside the pavement, collapsing the right main landing gear.

## Factual narrative

On July 9, 1999, about 1400 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 185, N6XS, veered off the runway and collapsed the right landing gear while landing at the Nervino airport near Beckwourth, California.  Skydive Lake Tahoe operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot and his passenger were not injured.  The local personal flight originated at 1300.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot stated he was landing on runway 25 when he encountered a dust devil on touchdown and veered into the dirt beside the runway.  The right main gear strut broke and the right wing hit the ground.

The closest official weather reporting station is the Reno, Nevada, airport, which is 33 miles from the accident site.  At the time, the station was reporting winds of 3 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6XS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6XS), registered now, S/N 1851424 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 185
- Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1851424
- Airframe hours: 4500
- Engines: Continental IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Skydive Lake Tahoe
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1999, 50 hours before
- Departed: O02
- Airport: O02, Nervino, runway 25, 4,660 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 175 total, 20 in this make and model, 55 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RNO, 33 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 19990709008999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990709008999A), Jul 9, 1999: Cessna A185E, Beckwourth, CA, Substantial damage. Acft ran off the rwy after landing and sustained substantial damage. (-23) during the landing rollout, the a/c was blown sideways by a heat generated dust…

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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