# Accident 20250228006649A: Cessna 120, Arcadia, FL, February 28, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 28, 2025, 15:47 local time
- Place: Arcadia, FL
- Airport: Arcadia Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.1958° N, 81.8373° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1958&lon=-81.8373&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3080N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3080N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 120 (registry code 2071402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 554 total, 2 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA140) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250228006649A

## Narrative

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

PIC AND SOLE OCCUPANT OF AIRCRAFT OVER FLEW THE RUNWAY FOR A TEARDROP ENTRY INTO THE DOWNWIND OF RUNWAY 24 (X06). AS PILOT CAME IN FOR FINAL SHE STATED THAT SHE HIT SOME THERMALS. ONCE INTO GROUND EFFECT ON LANDING PIC HIT A THERMAL WHICH MOVED THE TAIL FROM THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. SHE WAS ABLE TO RE-ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH RUNWAY 24 CENTER LINE WHEN SHE HIT ANOTHER THERMAL/ MECHANICAL TURBULENCE AND STARTED TO LOSE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. PIC ATTEMPTED A GO AROUND AND ENDED UP IN THE CULVERT. SHE WAS UNINJURED AND WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ERA25LA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA140), Feb 28, 2025: Cessna 120 (N3080N), Arcadia, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing.

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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