# NTSB LAX99TA308: Cessna A185F, N9497N, Daggett, CA, September 15, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: September 15, 1999, 06:50 local (13:50 UTC) - Place: Daggett, CA - Coordinates: 34.860561, -116.810417 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8606&lon=-116.8104&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 53357 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99TA308 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53357/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99TA308 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to recognize an excessive rate of descent and his subsequent delayed flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - descent - not recognized, pilot in command (cause) - proper descent rate - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - flare - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis After takeoff the pilot climbed straight ahead to 200 feet agl with flaps set at 20 degrees. Reaching 200 feet, he retarded the throttle to produce a simulated engine failure. He then moved the yoke forward and established a downward descent angle. As the aircraft neared the runway, he recognized that a high sink rate was developing. Simultaneously, he flared and added full power in an effort to slow the descent. The airplane landed hard and collapsed the left main landing gear. ## Factual narrative On September 15, 1999, at 0650 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N9497N, made a hard landing at the Daggett, California, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; however, neither the commercial pilot nor his pilot-rated passenger was injured. The aircraft was being operated as a public-use flight by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) when the accident occurred. The flight was originating from the Barstow-Daggett Airport at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a company flight plan was filed. The pilot took off on runway 26 and climbed straight ahead to 200 feet agl with takeoff flaps set at 20 degrees. As the aircraft reached 200 feet, he retarded the throttle to produce a simulated engine failure. He moved the yoke forward and established a downward descent angle. As the aircraft neared the runway, he recognized that a high sink rate was developing. Simultaneously, he flared and added full power in an effort to slow the descent; however, in spite of his actions, the aircraft landed hard. As the aircraft touched down, the left tire blew out and the left main gear collapsed. The 3-bladed propeller contacted the runway leaving 18 perpendicular scars in the runway surface. The aircraft came to a stop resting partially on the left wing tip. Upon inspection by CHP maintenance personnel, chordwise wrinkles were noted in the upper wing surface. Barstow-Daggett winds at the time of the accident were reported as 270 degrees at 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N9497N (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna A185F - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18504366 - Airframe hours: 14637 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D56B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Operator: California Highway Patrol - Registered owner: State Of California - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 13, 1999, 4 hours before - Departed: DAG - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: DAG, Barstow Daggett, runway 26, 6,400 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,300 total, 1,750 in this make and model, 2,200 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 8 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DAG ## 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 19990915026289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990915026289A), Sep 15, 1999: Cessna A185F, Daggett, CA, Substantial damage. (.19) On September 15, 1999, at 0650 hours pacific daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N9497N, made a hard landing at Daggett, California. The aircraft sustained… 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.