# NTSB GAA15CA112: Cessna 180, N180SA, Vichey, MO, June 6, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 6, 2015, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Vichey, MO
- Coordinates: 38.127498, -91.769447 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1275&lon=-91.7694&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 27, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91338
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA112
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91338/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91338
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA112

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.

## 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 180H, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072618), [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 180H, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072618), [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 180H, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072618), [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 180H, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, the airplane began to drift left. The pilot locked the left brake and the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The right wing struck the ground, causing the airplane to spin, and come to rest on its nose. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer, right elevator, right wing and right aileron. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to or during flight that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, the airplane began to drift left. The pilot locked the left brake and the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The right wing struck the ground, causing the airplane to spin, and come to rest on its nose. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer, right elevator, right wing and right aileron. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane prior to or during flight that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N180SA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180SA), registered now, S/N 18051903 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 (H)
- Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18051903
- Year built: 1968
- Airframe hours: 5573
- Engines: Continental IO470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 2015, 21.3 hours before
- Departed: KFAM, Farmington, MO
- Destination: KVIH, Rolla, MO
- Airport: KVIH, Rolla National, runway 22, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 530 total, 21 in this make and model, 487 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: KVIH

## 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 20150606008609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150606008609A), Jun 6, 2015: Cessna 180H, Rolla, MO, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Lost control of his conventional gear Cessna-180 during the landing rollout, resulting in a ground loop. The right wing struck the…

## Other investigations on N180SA (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 GAA17CA547](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA547), Sep 21, 2017: Cessna 180 (N180SA), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll in gusting crosswind conditions.

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 10, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91338. 22.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 11.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428975&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum For Record of Conversation (Gregory) (item 2, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428976&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Gregory)-Master.PDF
- Memorandum For Record of Weather KVIH (1515 CDT) (item 3, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428977&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20of%20Weather%20KVIH%20(1515%20CDT)-Master.PDF
- Photograph 1: Right Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428978&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%3A%20Right%20Horizontal%20Stabilizer%20and%20Elevator%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photograph 2: Right Wing, and Aileron (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428979&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%202%3A%20Right%20Wing,%20and%20Aileron%20%20(Courtesy%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.

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