CHI06CA209

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 180M · Chisholm, MN · July 30, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 30, 2006, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
Place
Chisholm, MN
Injuries
4 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N3336TCessna 180M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 31, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Minneapolis, MN FSDO
FAA report
20060730021909A
Case key
64347

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind condition. A factor associated with the accident was the gusty wind condition.

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.

Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skidLanding - flare/touchdown
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause

Analysis

The float equipped airplane cart wheeled in the water during a landing in gusty wind conditions. The pilot reported that after a 45 minute flight, they arrived at their destination lake and the winds were out of the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 28 knots. He reported that he circled the lake and made a short field landing approach to the southeast at 70 miles per hour with 30 degrees of flaps. The pilot reported that just prior to touchdown, a gust of wind lifted the right wing and the airplane ballooned. He said he applied opposite aileron and added power, but the right float touched the water first pulling the right wing down into the water. The airplane then cart wheeled coming to rest inverted. The nearest weather reporting station was located approximately 12 miles north of the accident location. The winds recorded 23 minutes after the accident were from 150 degrees at 19 knots, gusting to 28 knots. The winds recorded 23 minutes prior to the accident were from 140 degrees at 21 knots, gusting to 29 knots. The winds recorded 1 hour and 37 minutes prior to the accident were from 120 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 24 knots.

Factual narrative

The float equipped airplane cart wheeled in the water during a landing in gusty wind conditions. The pilot reported that after a 45 minute flight, they arrived at their destination lake and the winds were out of the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 28 knots. He reported that he circled the lake and made a short field landing approach to the southeast at 70 miles per hour with 30 degrees of flaps. The pilot reported that just prior to touchdown, a gust of wind lifted the right wing and the airplane ballooned. He said he applied opposite aileron and added power, but the right float touched the water first pulling the right wing down into the water. The airplane then cart wheeled coming to rest inverted. The nearest weather reporting station was located at Hibbing, Minnesota, approximately 12 miles north of the accident location. The winds recorded 23 minutes after the accident were from 150 degrees at 19 knots, gusting to 28 knots. The winds recorded 23 minutes prior to the accident were from 140 degrees at 21 knots, gusting to 29 knots. The winds recorded 1 hour and 37 minutes prior to the accident were from 120 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 24 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N3336T
Reported as
Cessna 180M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18051494
Engine
Continental O-470, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Jeffrey A. Copeman
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
Ely, MN
Destination
Chisholm, MN

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
43
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
221 total · 147 in this make and model · 145 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
150° at 19 knots, gusting 28
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
29.70 inHg
Observed at
HIB

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N3336T · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.