LAX96LA163

Factual narrative

On April 8, 1996, at 1615 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 185F, N61905, experienced a loss of directional control and nosed over while landing at the Placerville airport, Placerville, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the certified flight instructor (CFI), nor the airplane's owner was injured. The flight originated from Placerville at 1600. The owner held a commercial pilot certificate, and he had just purchased the airplane from the CFI. The owner desired to be checked out with the airplane's conventional landing gear. In the CFI's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he reported that he talked the owner through the first landing. The CFI performed the second landing, and attempted to demonstrate a normal three-point touchdown. According to the CFI, the airplane touched down on runway 23 in a three-point attitude, and then it veered to the right. The CFI reported that he attempted to correct the action by applying left rudder, but the airplane continued rolling to the right. The airplane exited off the side of the runway, entered a dirt area, and nosed over. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were experienced. The commercial pilot had just purchased the conventional gear airplane from the CFI, and he desired a check-out. The CFI talked the owner through the first landing. Then, the CFI took the controls and planned to demonstrate performance of a three-point touchdown. The CFI did not indicate that anything unusual occurred except the airplane veered right during rollout. According to the CFI, he attempted to take corrective action by applying left rudder, but the airplane continued rolling to the right. The airplane exited off the side of the runway, entered a dirt area, and nosed over. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were experienced. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12