# NTSB CHI99LA209: Cessna 180A, N9780B, White Bear Lake, MN, July 5, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 1999, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: White Bear Lake, MN - Coordinates: 45.089202, -93.009307 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0892&lon=-93.0093&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46695 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46695/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA209 ## Probable cause the pilot's inability to get the airplane to climb for undetermined reason, and the pilot landing the floatplane on the lake with the wheels extended. Factors contributing to this accident were the pilot's failure to perform a before landing checklist, pressure induced by the event, and the precautionary landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, climb - climb - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Wheels down landing in water, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear - extended (cause) - checklist - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - pressure induced by conditions/events, pilot in command (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, the pilot noted that the airplane was not climbing normally. He said that he could not maintain a comfortable airspeed to raise the wheels on the floats. He became distracted with trying to maintain a flying airspeed of 85 miles per hour and an altitude of 300 feet agl. 'The plane was indicating normal temperatures and pressures. The only noticeable differences were vibrations until the propeller was dialed back to 2,500 rpm and [the] manifold pressure was pulled to 25 inches [of Mercury (HG)].' The pilot cleared the landing lane on the lake and made the landing area. He said that he did not perform a before landing check and that the landing gear (wheels) were still extended out of the floats. On contact with the water, the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed that the wheels were fully extended on the floats. Examination of the engine and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 1999, at 1240 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 180A floatplane, N9780B, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when during a precautionary landing to a lake, following partial power loss, the airplane nosed over. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and three passengers on board reported no injuries. The local flight originated at 1230 cdt, at Forest Lake, Minnesota. In his written statement, the pilot said that after takeoff from the grass strip at Forest Lake, he became concerned that his airplane was not climbing normally. He said that he could not maintain a comfortable airspeed to raise the wheels on the floats. The pilot said he became distracted with trying to maintain a flying airspeed of 85 miles per hour and an altitude of 300 feet above ground level (agl). "The plane was indicating normal temperatures and pressures. The only noticeable differences were vibrations until the propeller was dialed back to 2,500 rpm and [the] manifold pressure was pulled to 25 inches [of Mercury (HG)]." The pilot cleared his landing lane on the lake and said that he was relieved that he made his landing area. The pilot said that he did not perform a before landing check and that the landing gear (wheels) were still extended out of the floats. On contact with the water, the airplane nosed over. The pilot and passengers got out of the airplane and swam to safety as the airplane sank inverted. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane after it was removed from Bald Eagle Lake. The airplane's lower engine cowling was crushed inward. The upper cowling was bent and buckled aft. The upper firewall was bent forward and down. The airplane's right side fuselage skin, just forward of the wind screen showed heavy wrinkles. The leading edge of the left wing, just inboard of the tip and running inboard to the vicinity of the left wing strut, was crushed inward. The left horizontal stabilizer was bent downward approximately 3 degrees at mid-span. The skin along the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer was bent and torn, upward and aft. The leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer was bent downward and broken. The front tips of both floats were crushed aft. The wheels were fully extended on the floats. Flight control continuity was confirmed. The airplane's engine was started and run. Examination of the airplane's engine revealed no anomalies which would have resulted in the airplane's inability to gain altitude in a normal manner. Examination of the other airplane systems showed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9780B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9780B), registered now, S/N 50078, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180A - Registry model: [Cessna 180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (registry code 2072604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 50078 - Airframe hours: 2279 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark R. Baker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 1999, 25 hours before - Departed: 25D, FOREST LAKE, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,810 total, 270 in this make and model, 1,760 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: STP, 15 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 19990705018379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990705018379A), Jul 5, 1999: Cessna 180A, White Bear Lake, MN, Substantial damage. (.19)On July 5, 1999, at 1240 central daylight time (CDT), a Cessna 180A floatplane, N9780B, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when… 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.