NTSB Factual Report

On September 11, 2009, about 1220 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 182K, N2819R, landed hard and porpoised down the runway before coming to rest inverted at the Havasu Palms dirt airstrip, Chemehuevi, California. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot and two passengers received minor injuries. The airplane sustained structural damage to the tail section. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed an unknown location, with a planned destination of Havasu Palms. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, he made the approach to landing over the lake onto runway 27. The airspeed was 60 knots, and as he reduced the power to flare, the airplane was "caught in a downdraft." The airplane landed hard, bounced back up into the air in an "erratically unusual attitude," landed, and bounced a second time. As the airplane came back down a third time, the nose landing gear sheared off. The pilot reported that the airplane slid off the runway and nosed over.

The pilot reported that the winds were moderate, with the windsock pointing down the runway. The pilot stated that he landed with a slight tailwind.

At 1156, the Needles Airport (EED) automated weather reporting system, located about 17 miles to the northwest of the accident airport, reported clear skies; temperature 39 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 7 degrees C; and wind from 040 degrees at 5 knots.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that at the time of the accident wind gusts were coming from the lake, confirming that the airplane would have had a tailwind during landing.

The pilot did not submit a written report to the National Transportation Safety Board.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper flare while landing with a tailwind, resulting in a bounced landing.