# Accident 20201002015079A: Cessna 180E, Princeton, OR, October 2, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 2, 2020, 11:30 local time
- Place: Princeton, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.7459° N, 118.6738° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7459&lon=-118.6738&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8678X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8678X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180E (registry code 2072612, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180E
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 806 total, 134 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA008) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201002015079A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED FROM MOSES LAKE ABOUT 0900 WITH AN ESTIMATED 44 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. DURING CRUISE FLIGHT DOWN TO THE DESTINATION, HE WAS AN ALTITUDE OF 11,500 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL) IN AN EFFORT TO THE ABOVE THE SMOKE; HE LEANED THE MIXTURE ACCORDINGLY. AFTER ARRIVING IN THE VICINITY OF THE INTENDED DESTINATION, HE PLANNED ON COMPLETING A LOW RECONNAISSANCE OVER A ROAD TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS A POTENTIAL AREA TO LAND.

HE COMPLETED A TRAFFIC PATTERN TO THE ROAD POSITIONING TO LAND TO THE WEST. HE OBSERVED AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC AND DECIDED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND. WITH THE AIRPLANE ABOUT 100 TO 120 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL), HE ADDED FULL THROTTLE THAN THE ENGINE RPM TEMPORARILY INCREASED. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE ?COUGHED? ABOUT THREE TIMES AND WAS NOT MAKING POWER. HE OPTED TO LAND IMMEDIATELY GIVEN THE RISING TERRAIN AHEAD. HE MADE A HARD LANDING IN THE DIRT, ABOUT 40 FT SOUTH OF THE ROAD. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE WENT OVER THE ROAD AND THE LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF. THE AIRPLANE INCURRED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR.

NOTE: THE PIC IS AN A&P AND WILL PERFORM HIS OWN ENGINE INSPECTION DUE TO THE NTSB RELEASED AIRCRAFT TO OWNER AND HAS NO INTEREST IN THE ENGINE INSPECTION. FAA FORM 8020-23 MAY NEED EDITED AFTER THE ENGINE INSPECTION IS COMPLETED.

12-9-2020- TALKED TO THE PIC ABOUT THE ENGINE INSPECTION, HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING FOUND AND THAT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS LEANED OUT DURING THE GO AROUND.

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## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR21LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA008), Oct 2, 2020: Cessna 180 (N8678X), Princeton, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to enrichen the mixture, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.

## Other reports on N8678X (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20170303002419I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170303002419I), Mar 3, 2017: Cessna 180E (N8678X), Yakima, WA, Minor damage. The pilot was making an approach to land with winds variable and gusty. The pilot reported making crosswind corrections during the approach for a right…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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