Cessna 180F N2198Z

Summary

On 3 June 1995 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna 180F registered N2198Z was involved in an accident near Cartago, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 June 1995 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Cartago, California, United States

Nearest airport

Templeton Meadows Strip

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 180F

Registration

N2198Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lone Pine → Hanford

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95LA201

2 people were seriously injured.

the pilot's inflight decision to attempt a low pass over a mountain airstrip at a high density alitude atmospheric condition, and, his failure to retract the flaps during the climb-out from the pass. The rising mountainous terrain surrounding the landing strip, downdrafts, and the high density altitude condition were factors in the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE FLYING OVER THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS, THE PILOT AND PASSENGER NOTED THAT THE SNOW HAD MELTED FROM THE TEMPLETON MEADOWS AIRSTRIP AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO DO A LOW PASS TO CHECK THE SURFACE OF THE AIRSTRIP FOR A POTENTIAL CAMPING TRIP THE NEXT WEEK. THE FOREST SERVICE ACCESS DIRT AIRSTRIP IS IN A MOUNTAIN MEADOW AT 8,700 FEET MSL AND SURROUNDED BY RISING MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS CALCULATED TO BE ABOUT 10,700 FEET. THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE LOW PASS OVER THE UNIMPROVED FIELD HE EXPERIENCED A DOWNDRAFT THAT RESULTED IN A 300 FOOT PER MINUTE DESCENT. THE PILOT SAID HE ADJUSTED THE AIRPLANE TO MAXIMUM CLIMB ANGLE TO TRY AND GET A POSITIVE CLIMB RATE AND CLEAR THE RISING TERRAIN IN HIS FLIGHT PATH. AT 300 FEET AGL, THE PILOT DID NOT THINK HE WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO CLEAR THE MOUNTAINS AHEAD, SO HE ELECTED TO TURN TOWARD AN OPEN AREA TOWARD LOWER GROUND. WHILE EXECUTING THE MANEUVER, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TREE, IMPACTED THE GROUND, AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. ON-SITE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY A TECHNICAL REP FROM CESSNA AND THE US FOREST SERVICE FOUND THE FLAPS EXTENDED TO 40 DEGREES. THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE WERE EXAMINED AND NO MECHANICAL FAILURES WERE FOUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.