# NTSB ANC20LA077: Cessna 180, N9712G, Kenai, AK, August 5, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 5, 2020, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 60.579723, -151.24417 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5797&lon=-151.2442&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101752 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101752/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101752 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA077 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper decision to place a passenger and baggage in the rear baggage compartment, which resulted in an aft center of gravity, an increase in directional instability, and affected the pilot’s ability to maintain directional control, resulting in a ground loop during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Equipment/furnishings: flight compartment equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022510): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not installed/available; cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022510/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022510/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: cG/weight distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Prior to flight: Aircraft loading event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot reported that during the landing roll, the airplane immediately veered right as the tailwheel contacted the runway. The pilot applied full left rudder to no avail, and the airplane ground looped to the right. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing and horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that the right brake may have dragged and that the tailwheel may have tilted over during the touchdown. Postaccident examination of the runway marks, brakes, and tailwheel revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The wind was reported as 30° right of runway heading at 4 knots. According to first responders, three passengers were sitting in the airplane’s front two rows, and one passenger and multiple bags were in the rear baggage compartment, which was not equipped with a seat. This likely resulted in the airplane having an aft center of gravity and increased the airplane’s tendency to weathervane into the wind and the airplane’s directional instability. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9712G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9712G), registered now, S/N 18052212, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 (H) - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052212 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 6386 - Engines: Continental O-470-50 275 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Minta Inc, doing business as Bigfoot Air - Registered owner: Reynolds Frederick A - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 26, 2020 - Departed: PAPN, Pilot Point, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: ENA, Kenai Muni, runway 02R, 7,855 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 9,500 total, 7,500 in this make and model, 9,500 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.67 inHg - Observed at: PAEN ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20200805014269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200805014269A), Aug 5, 2020: Cessna 180H, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. At approximately 1300 on 5 August 2020, a Cessna 180H, N9712G, was substantially damaged when the aircraft ground looped during landing at the Kenai airport.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101752. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12335451&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Point%20One_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA on-scene statements (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12311330&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20On%20scene%20Statements%20V2%20_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Kenai police report (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11712820&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Kenai%20Police%20Report%202008-0070%20closed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11711530&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20%20LA077%20redacted%20-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.