# NTSB LAX94LA328: Cessna 180, N9944N, Sedona, AZ, August 19, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 19, 1994, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Sedona, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.940578, -111.93991 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9406&lon=-111.9399&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 28833
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA328
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28833/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA328

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadvertant application of wheel brakes during a critical phase of landing rollout.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - brakes(normal) - inadvertent use, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED A NORMAL WHEEL-TYPE LANDING ON RUNWAY 03, AND HAD SLOWED TO A POINT WHERE THE TAIL WHEEL HAD CONTACTED THE RUNWAY. BECAUSE THERE WAS TRAFFIC BEHIND THE PILOT, AND HE HAD NOT YET REACHED AN EXIT TAXIWAY, HE APPLIED POWER TO ACCELERATE THE TAXI. THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO TURN TOWARDS THE RIGHT AND HE APPLIED LEFT RUDDER, INADVERTENTLY ENGAGING THE BRAKE. AT THAT POINT, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS CALM AND THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE AIRPORT MANAGER REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS OUT OF THE SOUTH AT 3 TO 5 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Factual narrative

On August 19, 1994, about 0945 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, N9944N, was substantially damaged following a nose over during landing rollout at Sedona, Arizona.  Neither the private pilot nor his passenger were injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight which originated at Albuquerque, New Mexico, on the morning of the accident at 0720 hours.  No flight plan was filed for the flight.

The pilot stated he had made a normal wheel-type landing on runway 03.  He had slowed to a point where the tail wheel contacted the runway.  He stated: "Because there was traffic behind me and I had not yet reached the exit ramp, I applied power to accelerate the taxi.  At that point, the airplane began to turn to the right.  I applied left rudder to compensate for the turn.  Unfortunately, I engaged the brake, causing the airplane to tip up on it's nose and then on it's back."

The pilot reported that the winds were calm and the airplane was  working normally.  The airport manager stated that the winds were out of the south at 3 to 5 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9944N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9944N), registered now, S/N 18052599, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180
- Registry model: [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (registry code 2072622) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18052599
- Airframe hours: 654
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-S 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jerold L. Freeman
- Registered owner: Jerold L. Freeman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 1994, 20 hours before
- Departed: AEG, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Destination: SEZ, AZ
- Airport: SEZ, Sedona, runway 3, 5,131 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 250 total, 91 in this make and model, 224 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19940819022519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940819022519A), Aug 19, 1994: Cessna 180, Sedona, AZ, Substantial damage. Made normal wheel landing. Lost directioinal control when tail came down. Hit brakes too hard. Nosed over.

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.

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