# NTSB GAA16CA108: Cessna 180, N64251, Sussex, NJ, January 15, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 14, 2016, 20:45 local (Jan 15, 2016, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Sussex, NJ - Coordinates: 41.200279, -74.623054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2003&lon=-74.6231&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Allentown FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92604 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92604/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92604 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA108 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing, which resulted in abnormal runway contact, a ground loop, and a 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 528 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Alertness/Fatigue: fatigue due to work schedule](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013520): Personnel issues › Physical · Student/instructed pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013520/cases.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013520/cases.md) - [Alertness/Fatigue: fatigue due to work schedule](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013520): Personnel issues › Physical · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013520/cases.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 1,514 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 4,590 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 180K, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 2,289 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that during the landing touchdown at night with the student pilot at the flight controls, he "felt the airplane hop a little and immediately felt the left wing drop." He reported that the airplane, "shifted to the right, the nose lifted, and as the airplane settled the airplane nosed over." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, the right wing lift strut, the vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The flight instructor did not report any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. As a safety recommendation, the flight instructor reported that, "I believe the accident could have been prevented if I personally executed the landing and not assisted my student in the landing." Additionally, he reported that, "I believe the length of the day and emotional fatigue played a big factor" with the accident. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that during the landing touchdown at night with the student pilot at the flight controls, he "felt the airplane hop a little and immediately felt the left wing drop." He reported that the airplane, "shifted to the right, the nose lifted, and as the airplane settled the airplane nosed over." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, the right wing lift strut, the vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The flight instructor did not report any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. As a safety recommendation, the flight instructor reported that, "I believe the accident could have been prevented if I personally executed the landing and not assisted my student in the landing." Additionally, he reported that, "I believe the length of the day and emotional fatigue played a big factor" with the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64251](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64251), registered now, S/N 18052886, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 (K) - Registry model: [Cessna 180K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180k) (registry code 2072624) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052886 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 2959 - Engines: Continental IO-520-D 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Network Spares - Registered owner: Network Spares - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 2015 - Departed: LYH, LYNCHBURG, VA - Destination: FWN, Sussex, NJ - Airport: FWN, Sussex, runway 03, 3,499 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 41; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 8,450 total, 250 in this make and model, 8,450 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2.7 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 47; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 150 total, 17 in this make and model, 2.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KFWN ## 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 20160114002119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160114002119A), Jan 14, 2016: Cessna 180K, Sussex, NJ, Substantial damage. N64251 was on approach to runway 3 at Sussex, NJ on the night of 1/14/16. Mike mendiburu was flying in the left seat and chris shaeffner was acting as PIC and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 3, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92604. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437265&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 833 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437266&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%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. --- 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.