# NTSB WPR21LA188: Cessna 182Q, N54PW, San Bernardino, CA, May 8, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 8, 2021, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: San Bernardino, CA · Airport, runway 6 at SBD - Coordinates: 34.095361, -117.23488 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0954&lon=-117.2349&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 103055 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA188 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103055/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103055 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA188 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing and his subsequent inadequate pitch and airplane control during a go around which resulted in a nose landing gear collapse. ## 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: [Cessna 182Q, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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: [Cessna 182Q, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 182Q, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072732), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing the airplane while in the right seat for the first time. During touchdown, the airplane landed hard and ballooned. The pilot then initiated a go-around and as he increased the engine power with his left hand, he also pushed forward on the control yoke with his right hand. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard again, the nose landing gear separated, and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54PW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54PW), registered now, S/N 18266804, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 182Q - Registry model: [Cessna 182Q](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182q) (registry code 2072732) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18266804 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 3635.3 - Engines: Continental O-470-50 265 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lee A. Scheffers - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2020, 50 hours before - Departed: KRAL, Riverside, CA - Destination: KSBD, San Bernardino, CA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SBD, San Bernardino Intl, runway 06, 10,000 × 200 ft, concrete - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 20, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 462 total, 344 in this make and model, 462 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KSBD - METAR: KSBD 081958Z 25006KT 10SM CLR 25/08 A2998 ## 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 20210508008229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210508008229A), May 8, 2021: Cessna 182Q, San Bernardino, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that on 05/08/2021, he was flying in the traffic pattern for runway 06 at ksbd with a less experienced airman in the left seat. The pilot… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 4, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103055. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12267888&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR21LA188%20pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of phone conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12268794&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20(Pilot)-Rel.pdf - Damage photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 365 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12265710&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20Photo-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.