Cessna 180H accident near Ocotillo Wells, California, June 29, 1998
On June 29, 1998 at about 2:15 am local time, a Cessna 180H, registered N4803E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocotillo Wells, California (Ocotillo 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
Failure of the left main landing gear due to a probable hard landing at an undetermined time.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1998 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Ocotillo Wells, California · Ocotillo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180H · all 180Hs on the register
- Registration
- N4803E · registry record · serial 18052033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An intermediate stop was made at another airport to pickup a passenger before continuing on to the accident airport. No discrepancies were noted with the landing at the intermediate stopover. On touchdown at the accident airport, both the pilot and passenger heard a snap sound, followed shortly by the left main landing gear turning under the fuselage and departing the aircraft. Both the pilot and passenger stated that the landing was normal. Examination of the landing gear revealed that the failed landing gear attach bolt was distorted, with the threads on the bolt and the associated nut stripped. The examination further revealed that the landing gear attachment hole was elongated. Examination of the dirt runway surface revealed no ruts, potholes, or other defects. No unusual tracks or markings were found on the surface until just before the resting point of the airplane.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,425 hours in all; 1,220 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,366 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 1997; 165 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R13 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE Gillespie CA
- Destination: L90
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,210 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 am from PSP, 90 miles away
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.