- Date
- June 8, 2019, 11:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place
- Moses Lake, WA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7529KCessna 180
- Defining event
- Landing: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 13, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190608006169A
- Case key
- 99576
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare and his delayed decision to go-around, which resulted in impact with rocks on a shoreline.
Findings · 4
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.
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 reported that, during landing on a lake, he was concerned he would not have enough landing distance, and he chose to conduct a go-around, during which the airplane's floats impacted the rocks on the shoreline, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot added that, "I should not have added power" during the flare. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during landing on a lake, he was concerned he would not have enough landing distance and he chose to conduct a go-around. The airplane floats impacted the rocks on the shoreline and the airplane nosed over. The pilot further reported that, "I should not have added power to my flair." The airplane sustained substantial damaged to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located 4 mile north-east of the accident reported that, about 12 minutes after the accident, the wind was variable at 5 knots and visibility 10 statute miles. The airplane was landing to the east.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7529K
- Reported as
- Cessna 180 (J)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18052663
- Built
- 1976
- Airframe hours
- 4,754.3
- Engine
- Continental O-470 SERIES, 265 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 18, 2019
- Departed
- W36 · Renton, WA
- Destination
- Moses Lake, WA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Equipment
- Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B
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
- 54
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 20, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,513.4 total · 29 in this make and model · 1,373.3 as pilot in command · 25.1 in the last 90 days · 5.5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.27 inHg
- Observed at
- KMWH, 4 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 8.2 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.