- Date
- May 29, 2008, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Kutztown, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N511MHCessna 180
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080529837039A
- Case key
- 68160
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.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the Cessna 180 was of a small stature and required the aid of additional seat cushions in order to operate the airplane. After completing an uneventful flight and landing on a turf runway, the pilot taxied the airplane clear of the area. While turning off the runway area, the nose of the airplane started to "drop." The pilot attempted to arrest the "drop" by pulling aft on the control yoke, but had to brace herself to do so. She then inadvertently stepped on the brakes, and the airplane "nosed over," resulting in substantial damage to the wing spar. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot of the Cessna 180, she was of a small stature and required the aid of additional seat cushions in order to operate the airplane. After completing an uneventful flight and landing on a turf runway, the pilot taxied the airplane clear of the area. While turning off the runway area, the nose of the airplane started to "drop." The pilot attempted to arrest the "drop" by pulling aft on the control yoke, but had to brace herself to do so. She then inadvertently stepped on the brakes, and the airplane "nosed over," resulting in substantial damage to the wing spar. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N511MH
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30570
- Airframe hours
- 11,612
- Engine
- Continental O-470-J, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2007
- Departed
- 1N9 · Allentown, PA
- Destination
- N31 · Kutztown, PA
- Airport
- N31 · Kutztown Airport, runway 28, 2,221 × 150 ft, grass/turf
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
- 39
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 239 total · 31 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- RDG, 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.