# NTSB NYC95LA067: Cessna 180J, N180BF, West Dover, VT, March 3, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 3, 1995, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: West Dover, VT - Location: 42.9392° N, 72.8529° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of West Dover, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9392&lon=-72.8529&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38928 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38928/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA067 ## Probable cause A LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE FROZEN SNOW COVERED TERRAIN WAS A FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS CRUISING ABOUT 1,000 FT AGL, AT A LOW POWER SETTING, FOR APPROX 45 MIN. THE SKY WAS CLEAR, BUT THERE WAS FOG IN THE VALLEYS. WHEN POWER WAS ADDED FOR CLIMB, THE ENGINE BECAME ROUGH. ADDITION OF CARBURETOR HEAT AND SWITCHING FUEL TANKS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WHEN LEANED, THE ROUGHNESS SMOOTHED OUT, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING ON A FROZEN RESERVOIR. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR DUG INTO THE SNOW AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE ENGINE WAS RUN SATISFACTORILY. ## Factual narrative On Friday, March 3, 1995, at 1015 eastern standard time, a Cessna 180J, N180BF, owned and piloted by Mr. Anthony S. Comunale, of Roxbury, Connecticut, made a forced landing on a frozen reservoir near West Dover, Vermont, after the engine lost power. The airplane received substantial damage and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal transportation flight which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: ...with the wind light, from the east, I arrived at the west side of Mt. Snow at about 3,000 feet. I continued north around Mr. Snow and the engine started to run rough and lost power, there wasn't much time to decide what to do so I looked for a place to set down. The engine was still running but I was to try to go any further over the mountains so I landed on the lake, a short roll out and the wheel dug in and the aircraft flipped over forward and stopped... When interviewed, the pilot reported he had been cruising at a low power setting, 2200 RPM, manifold pressure at the bottom of the green arc [15 inches] for 45 minutes, approximately 1000 feet above the ground. The sky above was clear, however there was fog in the valleys. As he neared his destination, he added power to climb over a mountain and the engine began to run rough. The situation was not corrected by changing fuel tanks or richening the mixture. When the mixture was leaned, the roughness improved, but the engine still continued to loose power. The pilot set up for a forced landing on Somerset Reservoir which was frozen and covered by snow. Just prior to touchdown, the pilot added power and received a partial response from the engine, however, the airplane was touching down and the pilot retarded the power. Upon touchdown, the airplane traveled approximately 30-40 feet and then nosed over. The depth of the snow at touchdown was approximately 2 feet. The airplane received substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The FAA reported the airplane was taken to Limington Harlin Airport in Limington, Maine for an engine run. In a written report, the FAA stated: ...The engine ran successfully, smooth, and strong for more than 2 minutes...It ran at 2,000 rpm, peaked at 2400 rpm, oil checked good, and temperature checked good.... ## Aircraft - Registration: [N180BF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180BF), registered now, S/N 18052402, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180J - 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: 18052402 - Airframe hours: 3504 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Anthony S. Comunale - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 27, 1995, 22 hours before - Departed: CT59, ROXBURY, CT - Destination: 4V8, WEST DOVER, VT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,850 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 1,700 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 2 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EEN, 30 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 19950303003149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950303003149A), Mar 3, 1995: Cessna 180J, West Dover, VT, Substantial damage. Lost power. Landed frozen lake. Nosed over in 2 ft of snow. Engine ran normal in test. Indicates carburetor icing. 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.