# NTSB ERA16CA128: Cessna 180, N9925N, South Burlington, VT, March 13, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 13, 2016, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: South Burlington, VT - Coordinates: 44.466388, -73.151664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4664&lon=-73.1517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 92836 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16CA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92836/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92836 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA128 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff roll, which resulted in a nose over. ## 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: [Cessna 180J, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: 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) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during takeoff roll the airplane encountered a gust of wind from the left side. He said that he "dipped" the left wing in an attempt to counter the wind gust but lost control of the airplane, flipped over nose first and impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during takeoff roll the airplane encountered a gust of wind from the left side. He said that he "dipped" the left wing in an attempt to counter the wind gust but lost control of the airplane, flipped over nose first and impacted the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9925N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9925N), registered now, S/N 18052580, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 (J) - Registry model: [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (registry code 2072622) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052580 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 2694 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Chamberlin Paul D - Registered owner: Chamberlin Paul D - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 6, 2015, 34 hours before - Departed: BTV, South Burlington, VT - Destination: PVT, Underhill, VT - Airport: BTV, Burllington, runway 01, 4,112 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 14, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,299 total, 870 in this make and model, 1,180 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: BTV ## 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 20160313002419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160313002419A), Mar 13, 2016: Cessna 180J, Burlington, VT, Substantial damage. The pilot and his adult passenger attempted to takeoff on runway 1 at Burlington, VT (btv). The pilot stated that he locked the tail wheel and applied power… ## Other investigations on N9925N (1) 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 GAA20CA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA069), Nov 8, 2019: Cessna 180 (N9925N), Tyler, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper wind correction while taking off with a tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose-over. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92836. 638 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439452&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Statement (item 2, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439454&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-Master.PDF - Docket Photo (item 3, .PDF, 483 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439455&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Docket%20Photo-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439457&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.