# NTSB SEA07CA230: Cessna 195, N1031D, San Diego, CA, August 12, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 12, 2007, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: San Diego, CA
- Coordinates: 32.82611, -116.972503
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8261&lon=-116.9725&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66422
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA230
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66422/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA230

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a wind gust that ballooned the airplane during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.  A contributing factor was the wind gust.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

According to the pilot, the landing approach to runway 27R was normal.  He asked the local controller for the winds and was told they were from 260 degrees at 7 knots with no reported wind gusts.  He flared the airplane for a touchdown in "a three point landing attitude."  As expected, he heard the stall warning horn go off, felt the tail wheel begin to touch the runway and was expecting the main gear wheels to touch when he "felt the airplane quickly surge up and then slam down."  The pilot reported that "it felt like a gust of wind lifted the airplane at the last moment."  The airplane "stalled" at an altitude of 8 to 10 feet above the runway and struck the ground "extremely hard."

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, the landing approach to runway 27R was normal.  He asked the local controller for the winds and was told they were from 260 degrees at 7 knots with no reported wind gusts.  He flared the airplane for a touchdown in "a three point landing attitude."  As expected, he heard the stall warning horn go off, felt the tail wheel begin to touch the runway and was expecting the main gear wheels to touch when he "felt the airplane quickly surge up and then slam down."  The pilot reported that "it felt like a gust of wind lifted the airplane at the last moment."  The airplane "stalled" at an altitude of 8 to 10 feet above the runway and struck the ground "extremely hard."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1031D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1031D-2017-03-09), registration cancelled 2017-03-09, S/N 7643, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 195
- Registry model: [Cessna 195](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-195) (registry code 2073102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Jacobs R755B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r755b-series) (registry code 35007, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7643
- Engines: Jacobs R755B2 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ELY, Ely, NV
- Destination: SEE, San Diego, CA
- Airport: SEE, Gillespie Field, runway 27R, 5,341 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 760 total, 85 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 20070812017059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070812017059A), Aug 12, 2007: Cessna 195, San Diego/El C, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 12, 2007, Cessna N1031D a Cessna model 195 aircraft departed ely Nevada (kely) direct Gillespie Field, el cajon CA (ksee). The pilot states…

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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