# NTSB CEN21LA331: Cessna 180, N9024M, Brenham, TX, July 19, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 19, 2021, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Brenham, TX · grassy field - Coordinates: 30.09943, -96.35494 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0994&lon=-96.3549&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103527 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA331 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103527/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103527 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA331 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff from a rough field. ## 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 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) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had landed in a field short of the runway due to fuel exhaustion. After he purchased fuel from the landowner and fueled the airplane, the pilot attempted to takeoff proceeding downhill on the rough field. Video taken by a witness showed the airplane start the ground roll and head about 145°. The airplane bounced twice, once coming airborne, before the airplane settled back to the ground. The airplane then pitched up, collided with a barbed wire fence, and climbed slightly before it descended, veered to the left, and collided with terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and both horizontal stabilizers. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The prevailing wind at the time of the accident was a direct crosswind of 5 knots. The pilot refused to provide additional information concerning the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9024M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9024M), registered now, S/N 18052124, built 1970 (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: 18052124 - Year built: 1970 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Damianov Venko - Registered owner: Damianov Venko - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Matagorda Island, TX - Destination: K11R, Brenham, TX ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: K11R, 7 nm away - METAR: METAR K11R 192335Z AUTO 28005KT 10SM SCT120 28/26 A2998 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SW T02770260= ## 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 20210719011249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210719011249A), Jul 19, 2021: Cessna 180H, Brenham, TX, Substantial damage. N9024M flight with 01 pilot onboard originating from matagorda island, TX, crashed in a field five miles southeast of Brenham, TX. Pilot stated that seven… ## Other investigations on N9024M (2) 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 ANC02LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA041), May 18, 2002: Cessna 180 (N9024M), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total engine failure during cruise flight due to the disentegration of the number five cylinder piston. A contributing factor in the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. - [NTSB SEA75DYG21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA75DYG21), Mar 4, 1975: Cessna 180 (N9024M), Yakima, WA, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 9, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103527. 2.5 MB in all. - Case findings (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13200756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=case%20findings%20CEN21LA331-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 421 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13202138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%204-Rel.pdf - Video clip 1 (item 3, MOV, 933 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13201663&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_6584-Rel.MOV - Video clip 2 (item 4, MOV, 925 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13202030&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=IMG_6589-Rel.MOV - Prevailing wind (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13211279&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=prevailing%20wind-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.