Casualties unknown

1982-05-18: Beech 77 (N1805Z) — Mendocino Aviation — Little River, CA

Little River, CA, US

On May 18, 1982, a Beech 77 (registration N1805Z) operated by Mendocino Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Little River, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control during the touch-and-go landing, resulting in a hard bounce and subsequent loss of altitude during the go-around attempt. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During a second touch-and-go attempt, the aircraft bounced hard on the runway and turned sharply left. Despite applying full power for a go-around, it failed to clear trees and landed nose down in a drainage ditch.

What happened

The pilot was conducting a second attempt at a touch-and-go landing when the aircraft struck the runway with significant force. Immediately following this hard bounce, the aircraft executed a sharp turn to the left. Recognizing the compromised situation, the pilot applied full power and raised the flaps in an effort to execute a go-around maneuver.

Despite these corrective actions, the aircraft was unable to gain sufficient altitude to clear trees located on the south side of the runway. The flight ended when the aircraft came to rest nose down in a drainage ditch adjacent to the airfield.

The investigation

The physical evidence indicated that the initial hard bounce disrupted the aircraft's trajectory and lift generation. The subsequent sharp left turn further reduced control authority during the critical phase of the go-around attempt. The failure to clear the tree line suggests that the altitude gained was insufficient to overcome the obstacle clearance requirements for the area.

Findings

The primary factor in this accident was the hard bounce during the landing phase, which compromised the aircraft's ability to safely transition to a climb. The decision to continue with the go-around after the bounce resulted in an inability to clear terrain obstacles.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control during the touch-and-go landing, resulting in a hard bounce and subsequent loss of altitude during the go-around attempt.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020917X03533. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.