# NTSB CHI95LA169: Cessna 180, N3149D, Clear Lake, MN, June 4, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 3, 1995, 20:10 local (Jun 4, 1995, 01:10 UTC) - Place: Clear Lake, MN - Coordinates: 45.440124, -93.990959 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4401&lon=-93.9910&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 22, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9901 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA169 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9901/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA169 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll. The proximity of trees to the runway was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE 'PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT UPON APPLICATION OF POWER' AND IMPACTED EVERGREEN TREES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT DURING THE OCCURRENCE, THE AIRPLANE SLID SIDEWAYS TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, THE PASSENGER SAID THE RIGHT WING CAME UP ABRUPTLY, THEN CAME DOWN HARD AND HIT A TREE. SUBSEQUENTLY, A FIRE ERUPTED AND THE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS BURNS. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE UPPER BOLT WAS FOUND FRACTURED. HOWEVER, EXAMINATION OF THE BOLT REVEALED THAT IT HAD FAILED IN SHEAR DUE TO DIRECT OVERSTRESS LOADING. ## Factual narrative On June 3, 1995, at 2010 central daylight time, a Cessna 180, was destroyed when it departed the runway during an attempted takeoff in Clear Lake, Minnesota. The private pilot sustained serious injury and one passenger reported minor injury. The local, personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed. In his written statement, the pilot reported that the airplane "pulled hard to the right upon application of power" and impacted evergreen trees on the right side of the runway. A postimpact fire ensued. During a telephone interview, the passenger reported that the pilot was "fighting the aircraft" and at about 40 miles per hour the pilot exclaimed "something's wrong." The airplane slid sideways to the right, then the right wing came up abruptly. The right wing came down "hard" and impacted with a tree. He believed the landing gear failed because the right wing came down further than the strut would normally allow. He said the pilot was "stunned" and did not reduce the throttle from takeoff power. The passenger reported that the pilot exclaimed "should've cut it off" and the airplane continued into the trees. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector examined the wreckage and reported that the configuration of the airstrip required the pilot to repetitively taxi about 1/2 mile through rough terrain to and from the runway. The right main landing gear was sheared from the airplane and the upper bolt was fractured. He reported no other evidence of preimpact structural failure or flight control malfunction. The landing gear bolt was examined by a metallurgist at the NTSB Laboratory, Washington, D. C. In his factual report, he reported that "no evidence of crack arrest positions were noted" and "all fracture features and deformation on the bolt piece were consistent with a direct shear ductile overstress separation." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3149D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3149D-2012-09-27), registration cancelled 2012-09-27, S/N 31947, built 1955 (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: 31947 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-K 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edgar A. Peterson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1995 - Airport: Peterson (Private), runway 36, 2,560 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,600 total, 2,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: STC, 330 nm away ## 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 19950603018929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950603018929A), Jun 3, 1995: Cessna 180, Clearlake, MN, Destroyed. Veered off runway on takeoff. Struck trees and burned. Right landing gear attach bolt was missing. Strut broke. (-23) see narrative #CHI95LA169 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.