NTSB Factual Report

On September 28, 2002, at 0915 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182, N2443R, made a hard landing at Paradise (Q88), California. Skydive at Paradise was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed Paradise about 15 minutes prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. This accident was initially recorded as an incident, but a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector upgraded it to an accident after examination of the airplane on October 8, 2002.

The pilot stated that company policy required a test flight prior to the first jump load. The pilot took off and turned to downwind for landing. He reported that he flew an uneventful and normal approach. He touched down on the main landing gear, but the nose gear folded under the airplane as it touched down.

The FAA accident coordinator examined the airplane and runway. He noted a skid mark on the runway at the touchdown point. He also observed gouges on the runway surface and chunks of displaced runway material.

The nose wheel deformed and buckled inboard along one quadrant. The nose gear fork fractured in several places; these fracture surfaces were irregular and rough in appearance. The fork split along its lateral axis, and the aft half of the fork also split parallel to the longitudinal axis. The aft half of the nose gear collar and a section of the aft fork fractured and separated. The fork fracture surface angled about 45 degrees to the surface, and had an uneven and grainy surface.

The nose strut displaced aft, and pushed up into the firewall and belly of the fuselage. The firewall exhibited upward crush damage, and it buckled.

The bottom and sides of the fuselage buckled aft of the main landing gear.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's improper flare resulting in a hard landing.