# NTSB IAD05LA009: Cessna 120, N1811N, Willimantic, CT, November 2, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 2, 2004, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Willimantic, CT - Coordinates: 41.743888, -72.18 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7439&lon=-72.1800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 60487 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD05LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60487/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA009 ## Probable cause the pilot's loss of directional control due to his uneven application of brakes. A factor in the accident was the tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - brakes(normal) - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, taxi - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis The commercial pilot was rated in helicopters only, and was receiving instruction in airplanes. He had accrued 8 hours of total airplane time, all of which was in the tail-wheeled accident airplane. During this instructional flight, the pilot demonstrated difficulty with proper brake control, and the instructor elected to practice braking and turning. While they taxied forward at 15 mph, the instructor asked the pilot to turn the airplane around. The pilot initiated an immediate right turn to reverse direction that oriented the tail into the wind. The tail rose up in the turn and the airplane continued around and over onto its nose. The pilot said that he intended to slow the airplane before the turn, but that his braking was "uneven", and resulted in a "hard" right turn and the nose over. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical difficulties with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On November 2, 2004, at 1130 eastern standard time, a Cessna 120, N1811N, was substantially damaged during a ground loop and nose over at the Windham Airport (IJD), Willimantic, Connecticut. The certificated flight instructor and the certificated commercial pilot, who was rated only in helicopters, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight that originated at Windham Airport, at 1055. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The instructor provided both a written statement and a telephone interview. He explained that his student was a commercial helicopter pilot with only 8 hours of experience in airplanes; all of which was in the accident airplane. The instructor had the pilot practice braking and turning on runway 27. After the pilot taxied for some distance, the instructor asked him to "head back." At the time, the airplane was traveling about 15 miles per hour. The pilot initiated an immediate right turn to reverse direction that oriented the tail into the wind. The tail rose up in the turn and the airplane continued around and over onto its nose. The instructor said he expected the pilot to slow the airplane prior to the turn. Instead, the application of brakes was "aggressive" and "uneven", and the airplane ground-looped to the right and continued directly into the nose over. During a telephone interview, the pilot concurred with the instructor's version of events. He said that he intended to slow the airplane before the turn, but that his braking was "uneven", and resulted in a "hard" right turn and the nose over. Both pilots reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. The instructor reported 1,379 hours of flight experience, 75 hours of which were in the Cessna 120. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate, with ratings for rotorcraft helicopter and instrument helicopter. He reported 6,500 hours of experience in helicopters, and 8 hours in airplanes; all of which was in the accident airplane. The weather reported at Windham Airport, at 1052, included an overcast ceiling at 5,500 feet and wind from 180 degrees at 3 knots. The instructor reported that, at the time of the accident, the wind was from the southwest about 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1811N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1811N-2010-08-19), registration cancelled 2010-08-19, S/N 12055, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 120 - Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12055 - Airframe hours: 6006 - Engines: Continental C85 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Adam Van Voorhis - Registered owner: Adam Van Voorhis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 2004, 27 hours before - Departed: IJD, WILLIMANTIC, CT - Destination: IJD, WILLIMANTIC, CT - Airport: IJD, Windham, runway 27, 4,278 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 29; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 16, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 1,379 total, 75 in this make and model, 1,278 as pilot in command, 88 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,379 total, 75 in this make and model, 88 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: HFD ## 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 20041102028829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041102028829A), Nov 2, 2004: Cessna 120, Willimantic, CT, Substantial damage. (-23) Mr. Mosimann was receiving dual instruction for the purpose of adding airplane single engine land to an already existing commercial pilot certificate.… 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.