# NTSB SEA04CA170: Cessna 180J, N52096, Pittsburg, OR, August 18, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 17, 2004, 18:00 local (Aug 18, 2004, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Pittsburg, OR - Coordinates: 45.618057, -116.468055 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6181&lon=-116.4681&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 59971 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04CA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59971/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04CA170 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an object (pole) during an aborted landing. The pilot's delayed decision to abort the landing and a pole were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - aborted - object - fence post (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aborted landing - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he first over flew runway 12, which is 1,050 feet in length, and determined that the windsock was indicating calm wind. The approach for landing was made at 65 mph with full flaps extended. The aircraft touched down about 50 to 100 feet from the threshold. The pilot reported that "... it didn't look good for stopping so I initiated a go-around. Rotation was a split second too late and the aircraft contacted some brush at the very end of the strip." The pilot reported that there was something hard in the brush which struck the outboard leading edge of the right side horizontal stabilizer. The pilot continued the flight to his destination and landed without further incident. Inspection of the right side horizontal stabilizer found a circular indentation to the outboard leading edge. Skin wrinkles were noted on the top and bottom surfaces. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 2004, at 1800 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180J, N52096, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with a post during the aborted landing from Pittsburg Airport, Pittsburg, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the airline transport pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight originated from Cottonwood, Idaho, about one hour prior to the accident. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he first over flew runway 12, which is 1,050 feet in length, and determined that the windsock was indicating calm wind. The approach for landing was made at 65 mph with full flaps extended. The aircraft touched down about 50 to 100 feet from the threshold. The pilot reported that "... it didn't look good for stopping so I initiated a go-around. Rotation was a split second too late and the aircraft contacted some brush at the very end of the strip." The pilot reported that there was something hard in the brush which struck the outboard leading edge of the right side horizontal stabilizer. The pilot continued the flight back to Cottonwood, stating that, "a lot of right rudder was required to center the ball and the elevator trim was inoperative." The aircraft landed without further incident at Cottonwood. Inspection of the right side horizontal stabilizer found a circular indentation to the outboard leading edge. Skin wrinkles were noted on the top and bottom surfaces. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52096](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52096), registered now, S/N 18052497, built 1974 (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: 18052497 - Engines: Continental O-470R-42B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John C. Rotter - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: S84, Cottonwood, ID - Destination: Pittsburg Land, OR - Airport: NONE, Pittsburg Landing, runway 120 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 8,260 total, 1,280 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040818018939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040818018939A), Aug 18, 2004: Cessna 180J, Pittsburg, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot decided to go around during landing attempt at Pittsburg airport (no airport identification code). During go around, the aircraft struck an object… 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.