# NTSB NYC08TA130: Cessna 180, N1044Y, Spartanburg, SC, March 11, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: March 11, 2008, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Spartanburg, SC - Coordinates: 34.915832, -81.95639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9158&lon=-81.9564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Aircraft wake turb encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/361) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 6, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67651 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08TA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67651/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08TA130 ## Probable cause The pilot's encounter with wake turbulence during approach as a result of his inadequate in-flight planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: wake turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032025/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032025/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Aircraft wake turb encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/361) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/361/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/361/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis After joining the downwind traffic pattern leg for landing on a 5,202-foot-long runway, the pilot of a Cessna 180 observed a Lear 45 taxi on to the runway for departure. As he turned the airplane on to the left base leg, he noticed that the Learjet was still on the runway. After joining the final approach leg, the Learjet started the takeoff roll and lifted off. As the pilot flared for touchdown, the accident airplane was "pushed hard" to the right, the right main landing gear touched down, then the airplane bounced and "threw to the left hard." The left wing then made ground contact, was substantially damaged, and the airplane ground-looped. According to the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), pilots should adjust their operations and flight path as necessary to preclude serious wake encounters. When landing behind a departing larger aircraft on the same runway, they should note where the larger aircraft's rotation point was and land well before the rotation point. The AIM also states that the flight disciplines necessary to ensure vortex avoidance during visual flight rules operations must be exercised by the pilot. Vortex visualization and avoidance procedures should be exercised by the pilot using the same degree of concern as in collision avoidance and that wake turbulence may be encountered by aircraft in flight as well as when operating on the airport movement area. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 11, 2008, about 1715 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 180, N1044Y, operated by the South Carolina Forest Commission, was substantially damaged during landing at Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport (SPA), Spartanburg, South Carolina. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the local public use flight, conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, after joining the downwind traffic pattern leg for landing on runway 23, he observed a "Lear 45" taxi on to the runway for departure. As he turned the airplane on to the left base leg, he noticed that the Learjet was still on the runway. After joining the final approach leg, the Learjet started the takeoff roll and lifted off. As the pilot flared for touchdown, the accident airplane was "pushed hard" to the right, the right main landing gear touched down, the airplane bounced, and "threw to the left hard." The left wing then made ground contact and the airplane ground looped. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued January 30, 2008. He reported 2,030.8 hours of flight experience. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION According to FAA and maintenance records, the airplane was manufactured in 1957. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on September 17, 2007. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had accumulated 9,620 total hours of operation and the engine had accumulated 78 hours of operation since its last overhaul. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION A recorded weather observation taken at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), Greenville, South Carolina, located approximately 13 nautical miles west of the accident site, about 22 minutes prior to the accident, included; winds at 260 degrees at 9 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, broken clouds at 7,000 feet, broken clouds at 9,000 feet, temperature 17 degrees Celsius, dew point 1 degree Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.99 inches of mercury. AIRPORT INFORMATION According to the Airport Facility Directory, SPA was a public use airport. It had one runway, oriented in a 5/23 configuration. Runway 23 was asphalt, in good condition. It was 5,202 feet long by 100 feet wide and was equipped with a vertical approach slope indicator. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the left wing aft spar, and two of its ribs were bent. The left wing skin was buckled and wrinkled, and the left aileron and elevator were damaged. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION According to the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), pilots should adjust their operations and flight path as necessary to preclude serious wake encounters. When landing behind a departing larger aircraft on the same runway, they should note where the larger aircraft's rotation point was and land well before the rotation point. The AIM also states that government and industry groups are making concerted efforts to minimize or eliminate the hazards of trailing vortices. However, the flight disciplines necessary to ensure vortex avoidance during VFR operations must be exercised by the pilot. Vortex visualization and avoidance procedures should be exercised by the pilot using the same degree of concern as in collision avoidance and that wake turbulence may be encountered by aircraft in flight as well as when operating on the airport movement area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1044Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1044Y-2011-11-02), registration cancelled 2011-11-02, S/N 32833 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32853 - Airframe hours: 9620 - Engines: Continental O-470-K-17F 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Operator: South Carolina Forest Commission - Registered owner: USDA Forest Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 17, 2007, 78 hours before - Departed: SPA, Spartanburg, SC - Destination: SPA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: SPA, Spartanburg Downtown Memorial, runway 23, 5,202 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 29, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 2,030 total, 30 in this make and model, 1,985 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: GSP, 13 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 20080311836539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080311836539A), Mar 11, 2008: Cessna 180, Spartanburg, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot lost directional control and ground looped after landing too soon after another aircraft departed and encountered wake turbulance. ## Other investigations on N1044Y (1) 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 ERA09TA466](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09TA466), Aug 15, 2009: Cessna 180 (N1044Y), Spartanburg, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The Cessna pilot's inadequate visual lookout. 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.