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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

June 16, 1996 · Cessna 172N · N6261D

Avalon, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 16, 1996
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Avalon, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 172N
Tail Number
N6261D
Operator
Pars Air
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX96LA235

Ground witnesses stated that the pilot did not flare and the aircraft touched down hard on the nose wheel and porpoised twice. On the second bounce the aircraft veered off the runway and toward a line of parked aircraft. The pilot attempted to recover by adding power; however, the aircraft stalled, impacted the ground, and collided with three parked aircraft.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to initiate a landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and porpoise, and his loss of directional control during an attempt to initiate a go-around with insufficient airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush and collision with parked aircraft. A visual illusion created by the runway gradient was a factor in this accident.

Full Narrative

On June 16, 1996, at 1502 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6261D, collided with three parked aircraft after a hard landing at Catalina airport, Avalon, California. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; however, neither the private pilot nor his three passengers were injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight by Pars Air when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Santa Ana, California, about 1430 on the day of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The airport manager reported that he first observed the aircraft in the traffic pattern on approach to runway 22. During the landing sequence the aircraft failed to flare and touched down on the nose wheel. The aircraft porpoised twice and on the second bounce, the pilot attempted to recover. The aircraft veered off the runway and stalled about 25 to 30 feet in the air, hit the ground, and subsequently struck three other parked aircraft. The pilot reported that he was making a normal approach with 40 degrees of flaps. On touchdown he bounced once and then bounced a second time, when the aircraft struck a hole in the runway. The nosewheel began to shake severely and he applied back pressure on the control wheel but thought at this time he was nearing the end of the runway. He intentionally turned left to avoid running off what he thought was the departure end. A second witness, who was a coworker of the airport manager, reported that he heard the engine accelerate during the accident sequence. He also stated that, although there was some spalling of the runway surface, there were no holes in the runway at the time of the accident. According to the NOAA Airport/Facility Directory, pilots cannot see aircraft on opposite ends of the runway due to the runway gradient. The other aircraft involved were identified as: a Beech G18S, N9375Y; a Grumman AA-5, N5439L; and another Cessna 172N, N6441D. A postaccident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the flaps were still extended to 40 degrees and the aircraft was trimmed nose down.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:02 PDT
Nearest AirportCATALINA (0nm)
Runway22
Runway Length3240 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172N
Tail NumberN6261D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorPars Air
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-H2AD · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 43 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time22:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data