# NTSB WPR19LA201: Cessna R182, N3268C, King City, CA, July 21, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 20, 2019, 23:45 local (Jul 21, 2019, 06:45 UTC) - Place: King City, CA - Coordinates: 36.228332, -121.121391 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2283&lon=-121.1214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99927 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99927/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99927 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA201 ## Probable cause A landing gear collapse following an undetermined loss of electrical power, which prevented the landing gear from fully extending. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Electrical power system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Cessna R182, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna R182, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna R182, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072734), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a cross-country flight in night visual meteorological conditions, the airplane began to lose electrical power, and the pilot diverted to the nearest airport. During the landing approach, the pilot extended the landing gear and flaps, and, although the gear position indicator lights did not illuminate, he felt that the airplane was in its normal landing configuration and continued the approach. The right horizontal stabilizer and elevator contacted the runway upon landing, resulting in substantial damage. Examination revealed that the nose landing gear was extended and locked, but the main landing gear did not extend and lock. A functional test of the landing gear and the emergency gear extension system revealed no anomalies. It is likely that electrical power remaining was inadequate to fully extend and lock the landing gear. The alternator was bench-tested and revealed no anomalies. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of electrical power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2019, about 2345 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna R182 airplane, N3268C, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near King City, California. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, about 30 minutes into the flight in night conditions, the airplane's avionics started shutting down. He attempted to power them back up, but they shut down again after a short time. He then observed a discharge indication on the ammeter and advised air traffic control. The controller subsequently provided vectors to the nearest airport and another pilot on the frequency turned on the pilot-operated runway lighting at the airport. During the approach for landing, the pilot lowered the landing gear lever to the down position and extended the wing flaps. The pilot stated he heard the landing gear extend and flaps deploy, and the airplane felt like it was in its normal landing configuration. He reported that, because he didn't want to lose sight of the runway, he elected not to use the emergency hand pump to ensure that the landing gear was down and locked. During the landing roll, the airplane felt “less maneuverable than normal” and came to a complete stop with the right wingtip and elevator contacting the runway. The airplane came to rest on the right side of the runway. The nose landing gear was in the down and locked position. Neither of the main landing gear were fully extended. The right horizontal stabilizer and elevator sustained substantial damage. Examination of the landing gear and electrical systems revealed no anomalies. The landing gear extended and retracted normally, and the emergency landing gear extension system operated normally. The alternator was removed from the airplane and was undamaged. The alternator was placed on a test bench and operated continuously until it reached its normal operating temperature. The alternator produced electrical power and no anomalies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3268C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3268C), registered now, S/N R18200262 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna R182 (No Series) - Registry model: [Cessna R182](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (registry code 2072734) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R18200262 - Year built: 1978 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jonathan Corey Brown - Registered owner: Jonathan Corey Brown - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: E16, San Martin, CA - Destination: KWHP, Los Angeles, CA - Airport: KKIC, Mesa Del Rey, runway 29, 4,479 × 100 ft - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 6, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 610 total, 230 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Observed at: KPRB, 41 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 20190720015699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190720015699A), Jul 20, 2019: Cessna R182, King City, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft landed with landing gear down but not locked. Substantial damage to right elevator. Slight buckling on upper right wing skin and upper tail cone skin… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 15, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99927. 6.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9769760&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB wreckage examination summary (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 563 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9772650&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA201%20Wreckage%20Exam%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Excerpt-poh emergency procedures (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9771694&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pages%20from%201981-Cessna-182-RG-POH-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9770419&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array-courtesy of the first responders (item 5, PDF, 7 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13408846&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Accident%20Site-Rel.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.