Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control following a hard landing. His physical impairment was a factor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The airplane touched down hard and bounced back into the air. Following the second touchdown, the airplane swerved off the runway, entered rough terrain, and the nose gear assembly collapsed. Witnesses who aided the pilot from the airplane observed that he had difficulty walking and required crutches. The pilot informed the witnesses that he had not fully recovered from hip surgery.
Source record
Factual narrative
On October 25, 1995, at 0930 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182L, N42712, made a hard landing and veered off runway 07 at the Auburn Municipal Airport, Auburn, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight by the owner/pilot when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated in Angwin, California, at 0850 on the day of the accident. The pilot reported to witnesses that the airplane bounced back into the air after initially touching down. When the airplane touched down for the second time, the pilot lost directional control. The airplane then swerved off the left side of the runway and entered rough terrain. The nose gear assembly collapsed. The witnesses ran to the airplane to assist the occupants. While aiding the pilot, the witnesses observed that he had difficulty walking and required crutches. The pilot informed the witnesses that he had not fully recovered from hip surgery. An A & P mechanic on the field inspected the airplane's brakes. He verbally reported finding no evidence of discrepancies or excessive wear which would have prevented the brakes from functioning properly. At the time of the accident the airport winds were reported as calm. -