# NTSB GAA16CA370: Cessna 180, N767MH, New Durham, NH, July 6, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 6, 2016, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: New Durham, NH - Coordinates: 43.485279, -71.166114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4853&lon=-71.1661&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93589 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA370 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93589/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93589 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA370 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing after encountering a boat wake, which resulted in the airplane veering left, impacting the water's surface, and subsequently becoming submerged. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 180J, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: choppy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a float-equipped airplane reported that immediately after touch down, the float plane encountered a boat wake, veered sharply to the left, water-looped, and became submerged inverted. The float plane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wake that his float plane encountered which precipitated the water-loop may have been generated by a boat that is used by a local ski school. ## Factual narrative The pilot of a float-equipped airplane reported that immediately after touch down, the float plane encountered a boat wake, veered sharply to the left, water-looped, and became submerged inverted. The float plane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wake that his float plane encountered which precipitated the water-loop may have been generated by a boat that is used by a local ski school. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N767MH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N767MH-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 18052699, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 (J) - Registry model: [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (registry code 2072622) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052699 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 3033 - Engines: Continental O-470-S 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 4, 2016, 8 hours before - Departed: 3B5, TURNER, ME - Destination: 3B5, TURNER, ME - Airport: NH68, Merrymeeting Lake - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 10, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 28,000 total, 1,340 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: KLCI, 13 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 20160706010829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160706010829A), Jul 6, 2016: Cessna 180J, New Durham, NH, Substantial damage. Pilot was returning the airplane to home on merrymeeting lake in New Durham NH. The weather conditions were VFR and the winds were reported as 240 at 7 gusting… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93589. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445124&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445125&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.