# NTSB CEN12LA060: Cessna 180, N3606C, Eau Claire, WI, November 12, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 11, 2011, 19:00 local (Nov 12, 2011, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Eau Claire, WI - Coordinates: 44.865833, -91.484443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8658&lon=-91.4844&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82283 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82283/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82283 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA060 ## Probable cause The pilot’s disorientation during a night flight, which resulted in an off-airport landing, and his inadequate directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the loss of the airplane’s electrical system power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: geographic disorient (lost)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Electrical power system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a personal sightseeing flight, the pilot landed the airplane at a controlled airport without contacting the control tower. According to the manager of a fixed base operation at the controlled airport, the pilot asked what airport he had landed at and seemed unsure of the direction toward his intended destination. Although the manager reminded him to do so, the pilot did not contact the control tower during his departure. While en route, it became dark, and the airplane experienced a loss of electrical power, rendering the cockpit "virtually black." Although the sky was clear and the visibility was 10 miles, the pilot was unable to locate a diversion airport after an hour of searching. He elected to land on a road, and the airplane collided with a pole. The pilot reported that he lost directional control during the landing roll. A postaccident examination revealed that the airplane’s battery had a low power state. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions other than the loss of electrical power. ## Factual narrative On November 11, 2011, about 1900 central standard time, a Cessna 180, N3606C, impacted a pole during a precautionary landing on a highway near Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night visual flight rules conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, which operated without a flight plan. The flight departed the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU), near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, about 1640, and was destined for the Crystal Airport (MIC), near Minneapolis, Minnesota. The pilot reported that he departed MIC about 1430 to 1500 for a sightseeing flight along the St. Croix River to La Crosse, Wisconsin. He stated that he did not intend to land at La Crosse. The pilot added he stopped to refuel at Rice lake, Wisconsin, before he started his return to MIC when dusk conditions began. While en route during the return flight, the airplane had a loss of electrical power rendering the cockpit “virtually black.” The pilot used a flashlight to illuminate the cockpit as he looked for a diversion airport for over an hour. After not finding a nearby airport, he elected to perform a precautionary landing on roadway. The pilot reported that the “tailwheel castored”, it hit an obstacle, “and did a fair amount of damage to the airplane”. The pilot listed no other mechanical malfunctions in his report other than the loss of electrical power. The pilot was asked if he flown anywhere else and he reported that he did not land at any other airport other than Rice Lake. However, the manager of the fixed base operator (FBO) at EAU reported that the accident airplane had landed there around 1620. The pilot asked an FBO employee which airport this was. The pilot was told he was at EAU. According to the manager, the pilot said that he had originated from the La Crosse area and that he was trying to get to Stillwater, Minnesota. The FBO staff pointed out the general direction toward Stillwater. According to the FBO manager, the pilot seemed shocked when he discovered that there was a control tower at the airport and realized that he had landed without any radio communication. According to the manager, the pilot said that his airplane’s engine was flooded. He could not get his engine started and accepted the manager’s assistance to get the airplane started. The pilot asked which direction was north and the manager pointed west and replied that west was the direction to Stillwater. The manager stated that he reminded the pilot to contact the control tower and depart to the west. The pilot taxied the airplane out about 1640 without contacting the control tower and the next time the manager heard about the pilot was after the pilot landed the airplane on the highway. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage on-scene and confirmedthe substantial damage to the left wing. A subsequent examination revealed that the airplane’s battery had a low power state. At 1956, the recorded weather at EAU was: wind 190 degrees at 4 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 3 degrees C; dew point -3 degrees C; altimeter 29.62 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3606C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3606C), registered now, S/N 31104, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31104 - Airframe hours: 940 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 2010 - Departed: EAU, Eau Claire, WI - Destination: MIC, Minneapolis, MN - Airport: EAU, Chippewa Valley Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review August 6, 2010; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 190° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: EAU ## 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 20111111027119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111111027119A), Nov 11, 2011: Cessna 180, Eau Claire, WI, Substantial damage. Pilot had not obtained a weather brief or performed any pre-flight planning. Pilot is seriously confused and denies having flown into the keau airport earlier… ## Other investigations on N3606C (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 CHI70D0129](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70D0129), Jul 5, 1969: Cessna 180 (N3606C), Balsam Lake, WI, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82283. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366926&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence - E-mails to and from the Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 807 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366927&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20E-mails%20to%20and%20from%20the%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358427&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous - Fuel Receipt Rice Lake, WI (item 4, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Fuel%20Receipt%20Rice%20Lake,%20WI-Redacted.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.