Havasu Palms Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chemehuevi Valley, California 92363
Friday, September 11, 2009 12:20 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper flare while landing with a tailwind, resulting in a bounced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/11/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1220
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Chemehuevi Valley
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92363
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 342332N
Event Location Longitude 1141631W
Event Location Airport Havasu Palms
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N/A
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1156 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 325
Weather Observation Facility ID EED
Elevation of weather observation facility 983
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 39
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27830
NTSB Notification Source FAA AWP Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2010 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2819R
NTSB Number WPR09LA445
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182K
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18258419
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 9 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name James W. Jeffries
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Redlands
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92373
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name James W. Jeffries
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Redlands
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 92373
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Unknown
Departure State --
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code N/A
Destination City Chemehuevi Valley
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2010 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --