# NTSB GAA17CA550: Cessna 180, N9624B, Danbury, CT, September 22, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 22, 2017, 10:39 local (14:39 UTC) - Place: Danbury, CT - Coordinates: 41.371665, -73.482223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3717&lon=-73.4822&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 27, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96084 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA550 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96084/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96084 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA550 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting wind conditions. ## 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 180A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072604), [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 180A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 4,585 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 180A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072604), [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 second touch-and-go landing in gusting wind conditions, the "wind got under [the] left wing," and the airplane ground looped to the left. He added that, during the ground loop, he applied brakes, and the airplane nosed over on the runway. The right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station at the airport reported, about the time of the accident, wind from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 20 knots. The pilot reported that the landing was on runway 35. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the second touch-and-go landing, in gusting wind conditions, the "wind got under [the] left wing" and the airplane ground looped to the left. He added that, during the ground loop, he applied brakes and the airplane nosed over on the runway. The right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report that there were any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station at the airport, about the time of the accident, reported wind from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 20 knots. The pilot reported that the landing was on runway 35. The pilot failed to submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9624B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9624B-2020-04-03), registration cancelled 2020-04-03, S/N 32921, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (registry code 2072604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32921 - Year built: 1957 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: DXR, Danbury, CT - Destination: DXR, Danbury, CT - Airport: DXR, Danbury Muni, runway 35, 3,135 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KDXR ## 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 20170922020869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170922020869A), Sep 22, 2017: Cessna 180A, Danbury, CT, Substantial damage. On September 22, 2017, at approximately 10:39 am, aircraft N9624B, a Cessna 180A, serial number 32921, [privacy data omitted] [privacy data omitted], was… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96084. 525 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457826&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 384 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457827&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%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.