# NTSB CHI98LA109: Cessna 180, N9140C, Whitewood, SD, March 28, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 28, 1998, 12:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Whitewood, SD - Coordinates: 44.459114, -103.640502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4591&lon=-103.6405&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10840 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10840/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA109 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from obstructions (wires) during an approach for a precautionary landing. Factors associated with the accident were: the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions, low ceilings, icing conditions, and the wires which were contacted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airframe - ice (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, approach - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Nose over, other ## Analysis The pilot reported he was flying between cloud layers at 7,500 feet msl, when the airplane started to accumulate airframe ice. He reversed his direction to return to Spear Fish, South Dakota, but the weather continued to deteriorate. He decided to make an off-airport landing in a field. The pilot reported that he circled the field two times. On the third pass, while on final approach, the airplane contacted the lower line of a dual set of wires. The airplane then nosed down and impacted the terrain prior to nosing over inverted. ## Factual narrative On March 28, 1998, at 1225 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, N9140C, operated by commercial instrument pilot collided with electrical wires followed by the terrain while attempting an off airport landing in Whitewood, South Dakota. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in instrument meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Spear Fish, South Dakota, at 1155 mst, with an intended destination of Walker, Minnesota. The pilot reported to an inspector from the Rapid City, South Dakota, Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) that he was flying between cloud layers at 7,500 feet above mean sea level when the airplane started to pick up ice. He reversed his direction to return to Spear Fish, South Dakota, but the weather continued to deteriorate at which time he decided to make an off airport landing in a field. The pilot reported that he circled the field two times. On the third pass, while on final approach, the airplane contacted the lower line of a dual set of wires. According to the FSDO inspector, the airplane nosed down and impacted the terrain prior to nosing over inverted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9140C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9140C-2013-07-15), registration cancelled 2013-07-15, S/N 31239, built 1954 (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: 31-239 - Airframe hours: 5035 - Engines: Continental O-470-J 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John J. Cossette - Registered owner: Spear Fish Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1998, 16 hours before - Departed: SPF, SPEAR FISH, SD - Destination: Y49, WALKER, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,436 total, 848 in this make and model, 6,436 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19980328004519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980328004519A), Mar 28, 1998: Cessna 180, Whitewood, SD, Substantial damage. Struck electrical wires and then impacted terrain while attempting to evad e deteriorating weather conditions. (.4)the pilot reported he was flying between… 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.