# Accident 20250217000729A: Cessna 180K, Breckenridge, TX, February 17, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 17, 2025, 14:30 local time
- Place: Breckenridge, TX
- Airport: Stephens County
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.7400° N, 98.8910° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7400&lon=-98.8910&mi=10
- Aircraft: N597JC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N597JC-2025-05-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180K (registry code 2072624, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180k) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180K
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 15,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA100) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250217000729A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS TESTING THE NEWLY INSTALLED NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT AND AUTOPILOT BY CONDUCTING A COUPLED GPS APPROACH TO RUNWAY 17 AT BKD.  AT APPROXIMATELY 3/4 MILE NORTH OF THE RUNWAY THE PILOT TESTED THE “GO-AROUND” FUNCTION BY PRESSING THE GO-AROUND BUTTON ON THE AUTOPILOT AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY POWER.  THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY MOVEMENT OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL.  SEEING THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT MAKE THE RUNWAY THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE AN OFF FIELD LANDING.  THE SURFACE BELOW THE APPROACH TO RUNWAY 17 IS DENSELY COVERED WITH TREES.  THE PILOT TURNED LEFT TO LAND IN AN AREA WITH AS FEW TREES AS POSSIBLE.

JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A MESQUITE TREE.  THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE GROUND WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO REMOVE THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL AND TIRE.  THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND CAME TO REST ON ITS ROOF APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET FROM THE INITIAL GROUND IMPACT.

INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE REVEALED THE THROTTLE CABLE/CARBURETOR ATTACH BOLT WAS MISSING.

## 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 CEN25LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA100), Feb 17, 2025: Cessna 180 (N597JC), Breckenridge, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: The mechanic’s failure to properly install the throttle cable hardware resulting in a separation of the cable and loss of engine throttle control.

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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