- Date
- November 8, 1999, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Factoryville, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7783ACessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 23, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19991108032099A
- Case key
- 47837
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 failure to maintain aircraft control during a crosswind landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he landed on the runway in a 6-8 knot crosswind. The right main gear touched down on the runway, but the left main gear touched down off to the side of the runway, in the mud. The airplane veered to the left, and came to rest inverted.
Factual narrative
On November 8, 1999, about 1015 Eastern Standard Time, a Cessna 180, N7783A, was substantially damaged while landing at Seamans Field, Factoryville, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Canandaigua Airport, Canandaigua, New York.
The pilot stated:
"...Landing approach to RWY 4 normal with no trouble keeping aligned with centerline. Crosswind of 6-8 knots from 320. Flared to 3 point landing and touchdown appeared routine as stall warning came on just before contacting runway. At this point a wind gust got under the left wing and lifted the left wheel off the runway. The plane started left and I applied right rudder and left aileron. Right tire marks faint for 60' and then heavy for 150' as plane continued left and exited runway at 30 [degree] angle. Left wheel touched down just as plane left runway..."
The airplane came to rest inverted, off the left side of the runway.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The Inspector noted that both wings, the vertical stabilizer, and the left strut sustained substantial damage.
The reported winds at an airport approximately 15 mile away, at 0954, were from 290 degrees at 8 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7783A
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32680
- Airframe hours
- 2,526
- Engine
- Continental 470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert F. Sykes
- Registered owner
- Castle Harbor Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 16, 1999 · 24 hours before
- Departed
- D38 · Canandaigua, NY
- Destination
- 9N3
- Airport
- 9N3 · Seamans Field, runway 4, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt
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
- 75
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 822 total · 52 in this make and model · 687 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AVP, 15 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.
Other investigations on N7783A · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.