Cessna 185A accident near Long Beach, California, December 22, 1994
On December 22, 1994 at about 4:17 pm local time, a Cessna 185A, registered N101LL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Long Beach, California (Long Beach airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft both during the landing and the attempted rejected landing maneuver.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 1994 · about 4:17 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 185A · all 185As on the register
- Registration
- N101LL · registry record · serial 185-0484
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON RUNWAY 25R IN A THREE-POINT ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND HE ADDED POWER, WHICH STRAIGHTENED THE AIRPLANE'S GROUND TRACK. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO REJECT THE LANDING. HE STATED THAT HE ADDED FULL POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO EITHER CLIMB OUT OF GROUND EFFECT OR PREVENT THE AIRCRAFT FROM DRIFTING LEFT TOWARD A LARGE COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT HANGAR. THE PILOT THEN PUT THE AIRCRAFT BACK ON THE GROUND AND IT GROUND LOOPED, DAMAGING THE WINGS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 710 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 619 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,568 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1994; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-VCF (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 3:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25R, 6,192 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:22 pm from LGB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.