# NTSB SEA05CA033: Cessna 180, N8609X, Billings, MT, January 10, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 10, 2005, 11:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Billings, MT
- Coordinates: 45.808612, -108.53083
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8086&lon=-108.5308&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60832
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05CA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60832/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA033

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare and his failure to maintain aircraft control.  The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing is a contributing factor.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

After touching down and bouncing once, the airplane's left wing became elevated, resulting in the right wing striking the runway.  The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest just left of the runway centerline.

## Factual narrative

On January 10, 2005, about 1140 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, N8609X, sustained substantial damage subsequent to a nose over while landing at the Billings Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana.  The airplane is owned by the pilot, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The private pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight.  The flight originated from Dayton, Wyoming, at approximately 1045.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that after touching down, the airplane bounced then settled back to the ground, but the left wing was "somewhat elevated."  The pilot further reported that as the airplane rolled forward, the left wing became even more elevated and he wasn't able to lower it, resulting in the right wing striking the ground. The pilot stated that the airplane's forward momentum resulted in the airplane to nose over, coming to rest on its back just left of the runway centerline.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8609X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8609X), registered now, S/N 18051009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 180
- Registry model: [Cessna 180D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180d) (registry code 2072610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470-L](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-l) (registry code 17374, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18051009
- Engines: Continental O-470 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: John M. Heyneman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Dayton, WY
- Destination: BIL, Billings, MT
- Airport: BIL, Billings Logan Intl Airport, runway 25

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 271 total, 110 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days, 13 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 20050110000219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050110000219A), Jan 10, 2005: Cessna 180D, Billings, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he was landing in a crosswind. Additionally, he stated that the aircraft got away from him, and the wind was too much. He drove the…

## Other investigations on N8609X (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 SEA72FTA01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA72FTA01), Jul 6, 1971: Cessna 180D (N8609X), Lodge Grass, MT, substantial damage

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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