# NTSB CEN09CA005: Cessna 180A, N6180, St. Louis, MO, October 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 6, 2008, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: St. Louis, MO - Coordinates: 38.661945, -90.651947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6619&lon=-90.6519&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 69251 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69251/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA005 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072604), [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 180A, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were practicing touch-and-go maneuvers in a conventional gear airplane on runway 8L. During the accident landing, the airplane touched down on the runway "centerline with no drop-in or bounce." During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right. The airplane then lifted onto its left main landing gear and exited the runway surface. The airplane came to rest upright at a 90-degree angle to the runway. The flight instructor reported he was at the controls during the accident landing. Examination of the airplane revealed the fuselage was buckled. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were practicing touch-and-go maneuvers in a conventional gear airplane on runway 8L. During the accident landing, the airplane touched down on the runway "centerline with no drop-in or bounce." During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right. The airplane then lifted onto its left main landing gear and exited the runway surface. The airplane came to rest upright at a 90-degree angle to the runway. The flight instructor reported he was at the controls during the accident landing. Examination of the airplane revealed the fuselage was buckled. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6180](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6180), registered now, S/N 32966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180A - Registry model: [Cessna 180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (registry code 2072604) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32966 - Airframe hours: 5000 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: 6180 LLC - Registered owner: 6180 LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 2008 - Departed: SUS, St. Louis, MO - Destination: SUS, St. Louis, MO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: SUS, Spirit of St. Louis Airport, runway 08L, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 75; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 15,095 total, 64 in this make and model, 15,071 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 7, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,031 total, 56 in this make and model, 73 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 20081006846629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081006846629A), Oct 6, 2008: Cessna 180A, St Louis, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] was acting in the capacity as a flight instructor at the time of the event. The second pilot [privacy data omitted] was receiving… ## Other investigations on N6180 (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 ANC99LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA102), Aug 1, 1999: Cessna 180A (N6180), Gustavus, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent ground loop/swerve. 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.