# NTSB ERA11CA024: Cessna 180, N2576K, Summner, ME, October 17, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 17, 2010, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Summner, ME - Coordinates: 44.693435, -69.381935 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6934&lon=-69.3819&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77606 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77606/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA024 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while on final approach resulting in an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while the airplane was on final approach at the destination airport, it encountered a downdraft and he was unable to arrest the descent rate, even with full power. A witness stated that the wind at the airport at the time of the accident was 8-10 knots. The nearest weather reporting station also reported that the wind was from 360 degrees at 6 knots. Another witness also reported that the pilot of the accident airplane would usually approach at a slow approach speed for landing. Review of a video recording that was made at the airport on the day of the accident also confirmed that there was little or no wind present during the accident, and that the airplane appeared to approach the runway at a slower airspeed than similar airplanes. Further review of the video also revealed that, while on short final, the airplane had developed a high sink rate and rapidly rolled to the right just prior to impact with the turf runway. No sound of an increase of engine power was recorded until just prior to ground contact. During an interview, the pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that during the accident the airplane incurred substantial structural damage to the landing gear assembly bulkhead. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that, while he was on final approach at his destination airport, he caught a downdraft on short final and was unable to arrest the descent rate, even with full power. A witness at the airport advised the Safety Board however, that the wind at the airport at the time of the accident was 8-10 knots. The nearest weather reporting station also reported that the winds were from 360 degrees true at 6 knots. Another witness also advised the Safety Board that the pilot of the accident airplane would usually approach at a slow approach speed for landing. Review of a video recording that was made at the airport on the day of the accident also confirmed that there was little or no wind present during the accident, and that the airplane appeared to approach the runway at a slower airspeed than similar airplanes. Further review of the video also revealed, that while on short final, the airplane had developed a high sink rate, and had began to rapidly roll to the right just prior to impact with the turf runway. No sound of an increase of engine power was recorded until just prior to ground contact. During an interview, the pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that during the accident, the airplane had incurred substantial structural damage to the landing gear assembly bulkhead. ## Aircraft - Registration: N2576K (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 (K) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052998 - Airframe hours: 3035 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Clinton Goodhue - Registered owner: Clinton Goodhue - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 28, 2010 - Departed: Sidney, ME - Destination: Summner, ME - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: N/A, East Sumner ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 2, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 5,057 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 78 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.71 inHg - Observed at: LEW, 21 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 20101017049859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101017049859A), Oct 17, 2010: Cessna 180K, Sumner, ME, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that on approach to land, as he passed over the trees at the end of the runway, with a head wind, felt downdraft and aircraft lost altitude and… 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.