# NTSB ERA25LA140: Cessna 120, N3080N, Arcadia, FL, February 28, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 28, 2025, 14:47 local (19:47 UTC) - Place: Arcadia, FL · on airport - Coordinates: 27.195843, -81.837262 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1958&lon=-81.8373&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: 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): 199829 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199829/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199829 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA140 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while 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: [Cessna 120, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071402), [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 120, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 120, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071402), [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 120, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that she encountered a “thermal” while attempting to land, which deflected the tail of the airplane off the runway centerline. As she was attempting to realign the airplane, it departed the right side of the runway and impacted a concrete drainage culvert, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that contributed to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3080N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3080N), registered now, S/N 13338, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 120 - Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 13338 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 4072 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 2024 - Departed: SRQ, Sarasota, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: X06, Arcadia Muni, runway 24, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 23, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 554.8 total, 2.4 in this make and model, 433.3 as pilot in command, 4.7 in the last 90 days, 4.7 in the last 30 days, 2.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: KPGD, 19 nm away - METAR: KPGD 282122Z AUTO 26013KT 10SM CLR 24/14 A2999 RMK AO2 WSHFT 2102 T02440144 ## 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 20250228006649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250228006649A), Feb 28, 2025: Cessna 120, Arcadia, FL, Substantial damage. PIC and sole occupant of aircraft over flew the runway for a teardrop entry into the downwind of runway 24 (X06). As pilot came in for final she stated that… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199829. 21.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 21.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18567851&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18568104&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf - NTSB mor - airplane examination (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18568748&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Wreckage%20Exam%20Summary%20(Young)-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. --- 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.