GAA15CA231

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 180H · Ione, OR · August 16, 2015

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
August 16, 2015, 16:10 local (23:10 UTC)
Place
Ione, OR
Injuries
2 minor, 1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N28RRCessna 180H
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 30, 2015
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20150816013989A
Case key
91826

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

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

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotCessna 180H: 32 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedCessna 180H: 29 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Wind: tailwindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipmentCessna 180H: 4 casesAll aircraft: 594 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he chose to land on the runway with an upslope and with a tailwind. During the landing roll, the airplane was left of the runway centerline and the pilot added right rudder to get back to the middle of the runway. The airplane veered right and despite control inputs from the pilot, the airplane continued right, and exited the runway. The airplane crossed a gravel road, impacted terrain and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, rudder, and horizontal stabilizer. The wind reported from a nearby weather station were 40 degrees at 7 knots about the time of the accident. The pilot reported he was landing to the south. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he chose to land on the runway with an upslope and with a tailwind. During the landing roll, the airplane was left of the runway centerline and the pilot added right rudder to get back to the middle of the runway. The airplane veered right and despite control inputs from the pilot, the airplane continued right, and exited the runway. The airplane crossed a gravel road, impacted terrain and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, rudder, and horizontal stabilizer. The wind reported from a nearby weather station were 40 degrees at 7 knots about the time of the accident. The pilot reported he was landing to the south. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft

Registration
N28RR
Reported as
Cessna 180H
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18052241
Built
1972
Airframe hours
2,074
Engine
Continental Motors O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 7, 2015
Departed
4S9 · Portland-Mulino, OR
Destination
NONE · Ione, OR
Airport
NONE · Jepsen Farm Airstrip, runway S, 2,500 × 80 ft, grass/turf
Equipment
Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
57
Injuries
Minor
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 18, 2014
Seat
Right
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
1,432 total · 71 in this make and model · 1,225 as pilot in command · 33 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
40° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
30.05 inHg
Observed at
KHRI, 37 nm away

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.2 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N28RR · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.