# NTSB IAD05LA008: Cessna 180, N2922C, Freedom, PA, October 27, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 27, 2004, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Freedom, PA - Coordinates: 40.691665, -80.17778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6917&lon=-80.1778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60448 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60448/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA008 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance during the takeoff resulting in an in-flight collision with trees. ## Analysis The local parachuting flight was to depart from the airport owned and maintained by the pilot. During the initial climb after takeoff from runway 09, the airplane drifted right and struck trees about 500 feet down the runway. The pilot stated that he did not see the trees before hitting them. A passenger stated that the pilot did not make any changes to the airplane's flight path prior to impact with the trees. The pilot and passenger both reported that the airplane's engine was operating normally. ## Factual narrative On October 27, 2004, at 1730 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 180, N2922C, was substantially damaged during an attempted takeoff from Kindelberger Landing Strip (24PA), Freedom, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot and one passenger received serious injuries, one passenger received minor injuries, and one passenger was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local parachuting flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. During the initial climb after takeoff from runway 09, the airplane struck a stand of trees and then impacted the ground. The airplane struck the trees at a height about 20 feet above the ground During an interview, the pilot stated that he would typically depart westerly, but on the day of the accident, the winds favored an easterly takeoff. About 500 feet from the beginning of the runway, the airplane became airborne. The pilot stated that he did not see the trees before hitting them. The pilot also reported that the engine was operating normally throughout the takeoff. According to a passenger who was onboard the airplane, he looked outside of the front window and realized that the airplane was heading towards a tree next to the south side of the runway. The passenger yelled, and ducked behind the pilot's seat. The airplane struck the tree with the right wing, then impacted the ground and rolled onto its roof. During a telephone interview, the passenger stated he did not believe that there were any problems with the airplane's engine prior to impact. He also stated that the pilot did not make any changes to the airplane's flight path, and that the pilot "just flew straight." According to the Airman Exam Summary for the pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical examination, which was conducted on February 21, 2003, the pilot's uncorrected vision in both eyes was 20/200, and was corrected to 20/40. The medical certificate was subsequently issued with the limitation, "airman must wear corrective lenses." According to the passenger, the pilot was wearing glasses during the accident flight. A review of the pilot's FAA medical records revealed that his most recent application for a second-class medical certificate was denied on May 27, 2003. The stated reason for the denial was of the pilot's history and clinical diagnosis of coronary artery disease, and the required treatment of bypass surgery. Kindelberger Landing Strip was a private airport owned and managed by the pilot. Runway 09/27 is a 1,515-foot by 110-foot turf runway, and its condition is listed as poor. The trees the airplane struck were located about 500 feet from the arrival end of runway 09. The trees were on the south side of, and about 10 feet from, the runway edge. The weather reported at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), about 12 nautical miles southwest, at 1751, included calm winds and few clouds at 14,000 feet. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2922C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2922C-2015-05-20), registration cancelled 2015-05-20, S/N 30822, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - 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: 30822 - Airframe hours: 7677.5 - Engines: Continental O-470-J 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 2004, 49.4 hours before - Departed: 24PA, Freedom, PA - Airport: 24PA, Kindelberger Landing Strip, runway 09, 1,515 × 110 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; last flight review August 23, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 8,874 total, 8,374 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: PIT, 12 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 20041027029529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041027029529A), Oct 27, 2004: Cessna 180, Freedom, PA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) At 1732 local, N2922C, a CE-180, crashed on take-off from Kindelberger air park. One (1) occupant received fatal injuries, two serious injuries, and one… ## Other investigations on N2922C (2) 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. - [NTSB NYC69D0028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC69D0028), Jun 2, 1968: Cessna 180 (N2922C), Freedom, PA, substantial damage - [NTSB NYC68D0419](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC68D0419), Apr 3, 1968: Cessna 180 (N2922C), Prospect, PA, substantial damage 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.