# NTSB GAA15CA068: Cessna 180, N2724X, Hartland, ME, May 4, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 4, 2015, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Hartland, ME - Coordinates: 44.929443, -69.519721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9294&lon=-69.5197&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 July 8, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Portland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91167 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91167/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91167 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA068 ## Probable cause Abnormal runway contact which precipitated a loss of control and 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 180, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a landing to a lake, the float equipped airplane hit the water, porpoised, and flipped over. The pilot reported that the airplane "flipped over like a ground loop" and subsequently sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during a landing to a lake, the float equipped airplane hit the water, porpoised, and flipped over. The pilot reported that the airplane "flipped over like a ground loop" and subsequently sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2724X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2724X), registered now, S/N 18051524, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051524 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 4404 - Engines: Continental O-470R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Comfort Kenneth W - Registered owner: Comfort Kenneth W - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2014, 24 hours before - Departed: Hartland, ME - Destination: Hartland, ME - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 296.7 total, 161.8 in this make and model, 213 as pilot in command, 6.8 in the last 90 days, 6.8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KWVL, 25 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 20150504009329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150504009329A), May 4, 2015: Cessna 180, Hartland, ME, Substantial damage. Great moose lake, Hartland, Maine. The pilot stated that he was attempting a water landing on a north westerly heading concluding a flight that originated from… ## Other investigations on N2724X (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 ERA13CA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA265), May 31, 2013: Cessna 180 (N2724X), Concord, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s delayed remedial action following a loss of directional control during the landing roll. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91167. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428710&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (FAA Inspector) (item 3, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428711&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428712&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428713&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%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.