# NTSB WPR09LA445: Cessna 182K, N2819R, Chemehuevi Valley, CA, September 11, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 2009, 12:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Chemehuevi Valley, CA - Coordinates: 34.392223, -114.275276 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3922&lon=-114.2753&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74734 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA445 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74734/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74734 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA445 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare while landing with a tailwind, resulting in a bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified ## Analysis The pilot reported that he conducted an approach to landing over the lake, landing to the west, and that as he reduced power to flare the airplane was caught in a downdraft. The airplane subsequently landed hard and bounced down the runway. On the third oscillation the nose landing gear sheared off before the airplane slid off of the runway and came to rest inverted. The nearest weather reporting system, located about 17 miles to the northwest of the airport, reported wind from 040 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot also reported landing with a slight tailwind. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 2009, about 1220 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182K, N2819R, landed hard and porpoised down the runway before coming to rest inverted at the Havasu Palms dirt airstrip, Chemehuevi, California. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. The airplane sustained structural damage to the tail section. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed an unknown location, with a planned destination of Havasu Palms. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, he made the approach to landing over the lake onto runway 27. The airspeed was 60 knots, and as he reduced the power to flare, the airplane was "caught in a downdraft." The airplane landed hard, bounced back up into the air in an "erratically unusual attitude," landed, and bounced a second time. As the airplane came back down a third time, the nose landing gear sheared off. The pilot reported that the airplane slid off the runway and nosed over. The pilot reported that the winds were moderate, with the windsock pointing down the runway. The pilot stated that he landed with a slight tailwind. At 1156, the Needles Airport (EED) automated weather reporting system, located about 17 miles to the northwest of the accident airport, reported clear skies; temperature 39 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 7 degrees C; and wind from 040 degrees at 5 knots. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that at the time of the accident wind gusts were coming from the lake, confirming that the airplane would have had a tailwind during landing. The pilot did not submit a written report to the National Transportation Safety Board. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2819R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2819R-2017-06-07), registration cancelled 2017-06-07, S/N 18258419, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182K - Registry model: [Cessna 182K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182k) (registry code 2072724) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18258419 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors O-470 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James W. Jeffries - Registered owner: James W. Jeffries - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 2009 - Departed: Unknown - Destination: N/A, Chemehuevi Valley, CA - Airport: N/A, Havasu Palms, runway 27, 3,000 × 75 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 9, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,005 total, 152 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 102 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: EED, 17 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 20090911016719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090911016719A), Sep 11, 2009: Cessna 182K, Lake Havasu, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On final approach to Havasu palms caught down draft landing hard, bounced twice, and flipped over. Minor injuries to pilot and no injuries to 2… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 20, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74734. 1.2 MB in all. - Excerpt Logbook (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20Logbook-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence - 6120 Letter (item 2, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%206120%20Letter-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40340314&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF 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.