# NTSB ERA12CA288: Cessna 180J, N180BA, Abingdon, VA, April 17, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 17, 2012, 11:55 local (15:55 UTC) - Place: Abingdon, VA - Coordinates: 36.686943, -82.033058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6869&lon=-82.0331&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Charleston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83408 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA288 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83408/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83408 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA288 ## Probable cause The passenger’s inadvertent blockage of the rudder pedals, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he made a visual approach for landing at his destination airport. He flared the airplane, and it touched down on the runway. The airplane started to veer to the left as he began to apply brakes. He attempted to apply right rudder, but the rudder would not move because his passenger had inadvertently stretched his legs out and blocked the rudder pedals. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and collided with a ditch. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing and the fuselage. The pilot stated that he did not experience any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated he made a visual approach for landing at his destination airport. He flared the airplane and touched down on the runway. The airplane started to veer to the left as he began to apply brakes. He attempted to apply right rudder, but the rudder would not move. His passenger had inadvertently stretched his legs out and blocked the rudder pedals. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and collided with a ditch. He completed an emergency shutdown. He and his passenger exited the airplane without injury. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing and the fuselage. The pilot stated he did not experience any pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N180BA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180BA), registered now, S/N 18052419 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180J - Registry model: [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (registry code 2072622) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052419 - Airframe hours: 4495 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 E 265 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sanford William W - Registered owner: Sanford William W - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 24, 2011, 22 hours before - Departed: OMH, Orange, VA - Destination: VJI, Abingdon, VA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: VJI, Virginia Highlands Airport, runway 06, 4,471 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 11, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 3,375 total, 960 in this make and model, 3,375 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: VJI ## 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 20120417006609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120417006609A), Apr 17, 2012: Cessna 180J, Abingdon, VA, Substantial damage. According to the pilot, after an uneventful touchdown on runway 6 the airplane began to veer to the left. He attempted to apply right rudder to correct the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 13, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83408. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 447 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372742&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Right side view of airplane at rest. Photo FAA (item 2, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366554&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Right%20side%20view%20of%20airplane%20at%20rest.%20Photo%20FAA-Master.PDF 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.