- Date
- September 15, 2005, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Lodi, WI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N392PTCessna 180A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 31, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20050915026019A
- Case key
- 62645
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing resulting in a nose-over.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The amphibious float equipped airplane was damaged during landing on a lake. The pilot reported that he made two landings on the lake prior to the accident. He stated that he made a third landing and after touchdown while the airplane was still "on the step", the airplane made a "hard" right turn then rolled left. The airplane came to rest inverted in the lake. The pilot stated that there were no wind gusts and that the manually pumped landing gear was not cycled between the three landings. The pilot stated that he believes the accident was the result of striking a submerged object during the landing. Examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no pre-impact anomalies. The floats were examined for evidence of damage due to impact with a submerged object. No damage consistent with striking a submerged object was found.
Factual narrative
On September 15, 2005, about 1515 central daylight time, a Cessna 180A, N392PT, piloted by a private pilot sustained substantial damage during landing on a lake near Lodi, Wisconsin. The airplane was equipped with amphibious floats. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan. The pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from Boscobel, Wisconsin about 1420.
The pilot reported that he had made two landings on the lake prior to the accident. He stated that he made a third landing and after touchdown while the airplane was still "on the step", the airplane made a "hard" right turn then rolled left. The airplane came to rest inverted in the lake. The pilot stated that there were no wind gusts and that the manually pumped landing gear was not cycled between the three landings. The pilot stated that he believes the accident was the result of striking a submerged object during the landing.
Examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no pre-impact anomalies. The floats were examined for evidence of damage due to impact with a submerged object. No damage consistent with striking a submerged object was found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N392PT
- Reported as
- Cessna 180A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 50140
- Engine
- Continental IO-470, 230 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Paul D. Thompson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- OVS · Boscobel, WI
- Destination
- Lodi, WI
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 440 total · 37 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- 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.