# NTSB DEN84LA056: Cessna 180, N3389D, Florissant, CO, December 30, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 30, 1983, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Florissant, CO
- Coordinates: 39.789604, -104.959304 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7896&lon=-104.9593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16312
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16312/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA056

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - airport snow removal - inadequate (cause)
  - not performed, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK DURING LANDING. THE RWY HAD ONLY BEEN PLOWED TO A WIDTH OF ABOUT 16 FT ACCORDING TO THE PLT. THIS WAS A PRIVATELY OWNED STRIP AND THE PLT/OWNER SAID HE INSTRUCTED HIS MAINTENANCE MAN/RANCH MGR TO PLOW THERWY TO MINIMUM WIDTH. THE PLT SAID THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR HIT THE SNOW ALONGSIDE THE STRIPCAUSING A NOSE OVER. THE PLT HAD JUST DEPARTED THIS STRIP AND RETURNED TO GET SOME CAR KEYS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3389D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3389D), registered now, S/N 32187, 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: 32187
- Airframe hours: 3284
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-K 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Grace Mayfield
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 1, 1983, 50 hours before
- Destination: 3V5, FT COLLINS, CO
- Airport: runway 18, 2,200 × 15 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 152 total, 138 in this make and model, 102 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F

## 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 19831230064989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831230064989A), Dec 30, 1983: Cessna 180, Florissant, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted landing on narrow snow ploughed Private strip. Aircraft got in snow and flipped inverted.

## Other investigations on N3389D (2)

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.

- [NTSB CEN09LA031](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA031), Oct 22, 2008: Cessna 180 (N3389D), Whitewater, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: Both pilots' failure to see and avoid the other airplane. Contributing factors in this accident were the Cessna 180 pilot's attention being diverted and the Cessna 210 pilot's vision being affected…
- [NTSB UNK64X3429](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3429), Aug 16, 1964: Cessna 180 (N3389D), Sterling, CO, substantial damage

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.

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