# NTSB CEN13CA400: Cessna 120, N2693N, Lakeville, MN, July 8, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 8, 2013, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Lakeville, MN
- Coordinates: 44.627777, -93.228057 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6278&lon=-93.2281&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87424
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA400
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87424/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87424
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA400

## Probable cause

The student pilot's excessive application of the brakes during the landing roll and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a nose-over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/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: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor was conducting tailwheel training operations with the private pilot who did not have any tailwheel experience. During the second landing, the tailwheel touched down first, the airplane bounced slightly, and then landed on all three landing gear. According to the instructor, the airplane began to swerve left and right; the student did not make the proper corrections so he took over the flight controls. During the recovery the brakes were applied, the airplane nosed-over, and came to rest inverted on the runway. The flight instructor did not recall touching the brakes during the recovery, but thought the student might have inadvertently applied the brakes. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The flight instructor stated that prior to the accident there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The flight instructor was conducting tailwheel training operations with the private pilot who did not have any tailwheel experience. During the second landing, the tailwheel touched down first, the airplane bounced slightly, and then landed on all three landing gear. According to the instructor, the airplane began to swerve left and right; the student did not make the proper corrections so he took over the flight controls. During the recovery the brakes were applied, the airplane nosed-over, and came to rest inverted on the runway. The flight instructor did not recall touching the brakes during the recovery, but thought the student might have inadvertently applied the brakes. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The flight instructor stated that prior to the accident there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2693N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2693N-2018-01-03), registration cancelled 2018-01-03, S/N 12951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12951
- Airframe hours: 8008
- Engines: Continental Motors Inc C85 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Daniel B David
- Registered owner: Daniel B David
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 8, 2012, 12 hours before
- Departed: KLVN, Lakeville, MN
- Destination: KLVN, Lakeville, MN
- Airport: KLVN, Airlake Airport, runway 30, 4,098 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 47; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 4,000 total, 10 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 80 total, 0 in this make and model, 25 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observed at: LVN

## 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 20130708012259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130708012259A), Jul 8, 2013: Cessna 120, Lakeville, MN, Substantial damage. CFI was providing instruction to a private pilot who was on his first flight in a conventional gear aircraft. During the second landing attempt by the private…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87424. 3.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397020&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Flight Instructor Interview (FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397021&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%20Interview%20(FAA)-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.

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