# NTSB NYC90LA012: Cessna 180H, N7930V, Niagara Falls, NY, October 14, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 14, 1989, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Niagara Falls, NY
- Location: 43.1084° N, 78.9462° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NIAGARA FALLS INTL (IAG), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1084&lon=-78.9462&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 23, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36569
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90LA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36569/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90LA012

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF ROLL DUE TO STRONG WIND GUSTS.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with weather, takeoff - roll/run
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, takeoff - aborted
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT THE RUN-UP AREA, THE PILOT HAD DELAYED HIS TAKEOFF UNTIL THE WIND SUBSIDED CHECKING WITH GROUND CONTROL EVERY FEW MINUTES FOR WIND DIRECTION & VELOCITY. WHEN THE WIND HAD SUBSIDED HE INITIATED THE TAKEOFF. HE WAS GIVEN THE WIND AS 350 AT 16 KTS BY THE TOWER. DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN AND THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY INTO SOFT TURF COLLAPSING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. THE CONTROL TOWER REPORTED THAT A STRONG WIND GUST OCCURRED PRIOR TO ROTATION. THE 1647 WINDS WERE REPORTED AS 010 AT 25 KTS, GUSTING 33 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7930V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7930V), registered now, S/N 18051830, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180H
- Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18051830
- Airframe hours: 1812
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard A. Fuller
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 28, 1989, 60 hours before
- Departed: IAC, NIAGARA FALLS, NY
- Airport: IAG, Niagara Falls, runway 6, 5,056 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 20,000 total, 60 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 173 in the last 90 days, 77 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 25 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19891014040359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891014040359A), Oct 14, 1989: Cessna 180H, Niagara Falls, NY, Substantial damage. Tried to depart with gusty winds from nearby thunderstrom and frontal activity,lost control,aborted. Ran off runway

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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