# NTSB SEA05LA144: Cessna 180, N2944C, Prospect, OR, July 16, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2005, 12:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Prospect, OR - Coordinates: 42.743057, -122.488052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7431&lon=-122.4881&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62093 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62093/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA144 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision to perform a wheel landing with a 5 to 10 knot tail wind, and his subsequent loss of aircraft directional control during the landing roll. A tailwind and soft terrain were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis Witnesses said that the airplane performed a "low pass down runway 20 to the south." On witness said that the pilot made a "pulling turn up, 180 degree turn to land on runway 02." Several witnesses said that the pilot landed "long and fast"; the pilot performed a wheel landing on runway 02. The pilot reported that the wind was calm. One witness said that the wind was "about 5-7 MPH out of the South." Another witness said that the wind was approximately 10 Knots from the south (180 degrees). The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the airplane's tail wheel "shimmied violently" and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. He said that the ground was soft, and the airplane nosed over damaging both wings and the left wing strut. Photographs of the runway show two equally black skid marks veering left off runway 02, and the extension of those marks continue in the gravel and grass to the nosed over airplane. The aircraft recovery personnel said that once the airplane was "up righted," they found that both brakes worked normally. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2005, at approximately 1220 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180, N2944C, was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway (west side) during landing roll and nosed over at Prospect State Airport, Prospect, Oregon. The private pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country personal flight which originated at approximately 1200. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot said that he flew to Prospect, Oregon, to attend a fly-in. Witnesses said that the airplane performed a "low pass down runway 20 to the south." One witness said that the pilot made a "pulling turn up, 180 degree turn to land on runway 02." Several witnesses said that the pilot landed "long and fast"; the pilot performed a wheel landing on runway 02. The pilot reported that the wind was calm. One witness said that the wind was "about 5-7 MPH out of the South." Another witness said that the wind was approximately 10 Knots from the south (180 degrees). The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the airplane's tail wheel "shimmied violently" and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. He said that the ground was soft, and the airplane flipped over damaging both wings and the left wing strut. The pilot reported that the airplane had recently come out of an annual inspection, and a post-annual taxi test revealed that the right brake needed additional servicing. Maintenance personnel said they immediately serviced the right brake. The pilot perform a second brake check while taxiing, and immediately departed. During the accident sequence, the pilot said he believes that the right brake failed. Photographs taken by the responding Jackson County Sheriff personnel show two equally black skid marks veering left off runway 02, and the extension of those marks continue in the gravel and grass to the nosed over airplane. The aircraft recovery personnel said that once the airplane was "up righted," they found that both brakes worked normally. The density altitude at the accident site was calculated to be approximately 4,790 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2944C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2944C), registered now, S/N 30844, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30844 - Engines: Continental O-470 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: George Satmar, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: OR96, Medford, OR - Destination: 64S, Prospect, OR - Airport: 64S, Prospect State Airport, runway 020, 4,000 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,100 total, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: MFR, 28 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 20050716016319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050716016319A), Jul 16, 2005: Cessna 180, Prospect, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 16, 2005, at approximately 1215 hours PDT, owner/operator, [privacy data omitted] was the pilot in command and sole occupant of Cessna 180,… 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.