# NTSB ERA17CA245: Cessna 180, N9961N, Nashua, NH, July 4, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 4, 2017, 09:03 local (13:03 UTC) - Place: Nashua, NH - Coordinates: 42.782501, -71.514167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7825&lon=-71.5142&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95589 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17CA245 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95589/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95589 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17CA245 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the airplane reported that the en route portion of the cross-country flight was uneventful and that conditions were "good." Following a normal approach and landing, he lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane ground looped and came to rest at the right edge of the runway in grass. During the accident sequence, the left main landing gear separated from the fuselage, and the left wing and propeller contacted the ground. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the airplane reported that the en route portion of the cross-country flight was uneventful and conditions were "good." Following a normal approach and landing, he lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane ground-looped and came to rest at the right edge of the runway, in the grass. The left main landing gear separated from the fuselage and the left wing and propeller contacted the ground during the accident sequence.A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: N9961N (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 (J) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052616 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 1700 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 2016, 60 hours before - Departed: PSM, Portsmouth, NH - Destination: ASH, Nashua, NH - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: ASH, Boire Field, runway 32, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 23, 2017; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 208 total, 59 in this make and model, 208 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: ASH ## 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 20170704009899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170704009899A), Jul 4, 2017: Cessna 180J, Nashua, NH, Substantial damage. Pilot was flying from kpsm to kash for a VFR flight. On landing at approximately 9:03AM EST pilot lost directional control of the aircraft, the plane went into… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95589. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456494&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - NTSB Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 296 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456495&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 761 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456497&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.