# NTSB ERA21LA037: Cessna 180, N6484X, Warrenton, GA, November 3, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 3, 2020, 16:57 local (21:57 UTC)
- Place: Warrenton, GA · 888 Warrenton Rd, Warrenton, GA
- Coordinates: 33.3666, -82.6228 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3666&lon=-82.6228&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102242
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102242/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102242
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA037

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to attain the proper touchdown point which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with trees.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was attempting to land the airplane on a private, 950-ft-long turf airstrip. The airplane was high during the first two attempts to land, and the pilot initiated a go-around each time. During the third attempt, the airplane was traveling too fast, and it touched down near the mid-point of the runway and bounced. The airplane then departed the end of the of the runway and impacted trees. The pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane was destroyed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6484X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6484X), registered now, S/N 18050984, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 (D)
- Registry model: [Cessna 180D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180d) (registry code 2072610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18050984
- Year built: 1961
- Airframe hours: 3451.2
- Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 20, 2020
- Departed: KAJR, Habersham, GA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: PVT, Private, runway 18, 950 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; injuries: minor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,500 total, 500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 27.00 inHg
- Observed at: KHQU, 12 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 20201103020879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201103020879A), Nov 3, 2020: Cessna 180D, Warrenton, GA, Destroyed. On November 03, 2020, at approximately 1622 local time the pilot attempted to land a Cessna model 180D aircraft at east Warrenton way, warrention Georgia on a…

## Other investigations on N6484X (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 FTW97LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA143), Mar 27, 1997: Cessna 180D (N6484X), Erie, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airplane directional control. A factor was the crosswind.

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102242. 4.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 memorandum for record (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11618264&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Memorandum%20for%20Record-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11613824&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11618501&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FW_%20180%20Cessna%20crash_eyewitness_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement memorandum for record (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11613089&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Danny%20Cox%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 836 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11613834&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20037-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records annual inspection (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11618938&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Annual_Redacted-Rel.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.

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