N9497N

On September 15, 1999, at 0650 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A185F, N9497N, made a hard landing at the Daggett, California, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; however, neither the commercial pilot nor his pilot-rated passenger was injured. The aircraft was being operated as a public-use flight by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) when the accident occurred. The flight was originating from the Barstow-Daggett Airport at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a company flight plan was filed.

The pilot took off on runway 26 and climbed straight ahead to 200 feet agl with takeoff flaps set at 20 degrees. As the aircraft reached 200 feet, he retarded the throttle to produce a simulated engine failure. He moved the yoke forward and established a downward descent angle. As the aircraft neared the runway, he recognized that a high sink rate was developing. Simultaneously, he flared and added full power in an effort to slow the descent; however, in spite of his actions, the aircraft landed hard.

As the aircraft touched down, the left tire blew out and the left main gear collapsed. The 3-bladed propeller contacted the runway leaving 18 perpendicular scars in the runway surface. The aircraft came to a stop resting partially on the left wing tip. Upon inspection by CHP maintenance personnel, chordwise wrinkles were noted in the upper wing surface.

Barstow-Daggett winds at the time of the accident were reported as 270 degrees at 8 knots.