# NTSB GAA20CA029: Cessna 180, N180JL, Flannigan, NV, October 15, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 15, 2019, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Flannigan, NV - Coordinates: 40.130001, -119.910003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1300&lon=-119.9100&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100446 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100446/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100446 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA029 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a wing strike. ## 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing roll on the flat, soft dirt, dry lakebed, he "could not get full deflection of the left brake as it felt as if something were underneath the pedal." The airplane veered right, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane bounced, and the left wing struck the ground. When the airplane stopped, the pilot could not find any objects that could have impeded the range of pedal movement. 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 in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll on the flat, soft dirt, dry lakebed, he "could not get full deflection of the left brake as it felt as if something were underneath the pedal." The airplane veered to the right and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane bounced and subsequently the left wing struck the ground. When the airplane stopped, the pilot could not find any objects that could have impeded the range of pedal movement. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N180JL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180JL), registered now, S/N 32858, 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: 32858 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 4473 - Engines: Continental O-470-50 265 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 2018 - Departed: SVE, Sussanville, CA - Destination: n/a, Flannigan, NV - Airport: n/a, Dead Cow Lakebed Airstrip - Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 27, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 289 total, 115 in this make and model, 212 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KSVE, 34 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 20191015017979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191015017979A), Oct 15, 2019: Cessna 180A, Herlong, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot was making multiple take offs and landings at Dead Cow dry lakebed on the flanigan playa, California, when the aircraft lost control and ground… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100446. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480084&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480085&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.