# NTSB ERA09CA127: Cessna 180K, N37MD, Port Orange, FL, December 31, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 31, 2008, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Port Orange, FL - Coordinates: 29.080278, -81.046669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0803&lon=-81.0467&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73192 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73192/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA127 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during landing. Contributing to the accident were the gusting wind conditions and the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, who recently acquired the airplane, was receiving instruction for insurance purposes. After performing some airwork, the pilot returned to the traffic pattern for landing practice and joined a left downwind leg for runway 23. On short final, he lowered flaps to 40 degrees and the airplane slowed to 60 knots. At 15 feet above ground level, the airplane "came down hard" on the runway numbers. The left and right main landing gear failed and the airplane received structural damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 235 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. He also reported that windshear occurred and they were unable to react quickly enough to prevent the hard landing. The reported wind at a nearby airport about the time of the accident was from 280 degrees at 15 knots. The pilot reported total flight experience of 1,354 hours, of which 3 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane and 3 hours were flown during the 90-day period preceding the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot, who recently acquired the Cessna 180K airplane, was receiving instruction for insurance purposes. After some airwork was performed, the flight returned to the traffic pattern for landing practice. The pilot entered the traffic pattern and joined a left downwind leg for runway 23. On short final, flaps were lowered to 40 degrees and the airplane was slowed to 60 knots. At 15 feet above ground level, the airplane "came down hard" on the runway numbers. The left and right main landing gear failed and the airplane came to a stop on the right edge of the runway. Structural damage to the lower fuselage resulted. The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 235 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. He also reported that windshear occurred and they were unable to react quickly enough to prevent the hard landing. The reported wind at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, was from 280 degrees at 15 knots. The pilot reported a total flight experience of 1,354 hours; of which, 3 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane and 3 hours were flown during the 90-day period preceding the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: N37MD (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180K - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18053012 - Airframe hours: 2788 - Engines: Continental O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Andrew G. Spaulding - Registered owner: Andrew G. Spaulding - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2008, 6 hours before - Departed: 7FL6, Port Orange, FL - Destination: 7FL6, Port Orange, FL - Airport: 7FL6, Spruce Creek Airport, runway 23, 4,400 × 200 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 11, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,354 total, 3 in this make and model, 1,285 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 69; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 12, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 13,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: EVB, 5 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 20081231854339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081231854339A), Dec 31, 2008: Cessna 180K, Daytona Beach, FL, Substantial damage. The new aircraft owner [privacy data omitted] was receiving dual flight instruction from the CFI [privacy data omitted]. While attempting to land on runway 23… 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.