# NTSB WPR15CA100: Cessna U206 - G, Kernville, CA, February 9, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 9, 2015, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Kernville, CA
- Coordinates: 35.728332, -118.419723 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7283&lon=-118.4197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90701
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15CA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90701/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90701
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA100

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate flare and failure to maintain airplane control during the landing with a tailwind which resulted in a bounce, long landing, and subsequent runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot made an approach for landing on runway 35. According to airport personnel, the wind was about 170 at 25 knots creating a tailwind component for landing. During the landing sequence, the airplane bounced and touched down further than normal. The airplane subsequently overran the departure end of the runway onto rough terrain, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot made an approach for landing at an airport with a substantial tail wind. According to airport personnel, the wind was about 170 at 25 knots creating a tailwind component for landing. During the landing sequence, the airplane bounced and touched down further than normal. The airplane subsequently overran the departure end of the runway onto rough terrain, and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CFGQQ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA U206 - G (G)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U20606423
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 2349.3
- Engines: Continental IO-550F21 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator: Richard Schmitt
- Registered owner: Richard Schmitt
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 22, 2014, 40 hours before
- Departed: PSP, PALM SPRINGS, CA
- Destination: L05, Kernville, CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: L05, Kern Valley, runway 35, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 374 total, 301 in this make and model, 248 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: BFL, 36 nm away

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90701. 8.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427266&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427267&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Wreckage (Photo courtesy of Kern County Airport Operations) (item 3, .PDF, 6.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428169&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20courtesy%20of%20Kern%20County%20Airport%20Operations)-Master.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.

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