# NTSB GAA16CA474: Cessna 180, N54AF, Yakutat, AK, September 3, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 2, 2016, 17:00 local (Sep 3, 2016, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Yakutat, AK
- Coordinates: 59.712223, -140.348052 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.7122&lon=-140.3481&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- 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): 93985
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA474
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93985/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93985
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA474

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate inspection of the off-airport landing area, which resulted in an encounter with standing water and a nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 97 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); 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 of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll on a grass field the airplane encountered standing water and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, the right wing strut, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported as a safety recommendation to conduct a more thorough pre-landing reconnaissance of the intended landing zone.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll on a grass field the airplane encountered standing water and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, the right wing strut, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported as a safety recommendation to conduct a more thorough pre-landing reconnaissance of the intended landing zone.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54AF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54AF), registered now, S/N 30943, built 1954 (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: 30943
- Year built: 1954
- Airframe hours: 3874.6
- Engines: CONT MOTOR 10520ACC 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2016
- Departed: Yakutat, AK
- Destination: Yakutat, AK
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 27, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 14,300 total, 990 in this make and model, 14,209 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 28.3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: PAYA, 24 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 20160902015849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160902015849A), Sep 2, 2016: Cessna 180, Yakutat, AK, Substantial damage. Description: On September 2nd 2016 at about 1700 local time, a privately owned Cessna 180, N54AF, with one pilot and no passengers made a short part 91 flight…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 18, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93985. 1.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 942 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445495&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of Mechanic) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 582 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445496&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20Mechanic)-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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