# NTSB SEA07LA063: Cessna 180, N9115C, Bellingham, WA, February 24, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 23, 2007, 21:00 local (Feb 24, 2007, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Bellingham, WA - Coordinates: 48.792778, -122.537498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7928&lon=-122.5375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65337 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65337/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA063 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing factors were the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, and the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) ## Analysis The engine lost power while on final approach to the destination airport. The pilot said all was normal until about 400 feet on final approach, when the engine lost power and he landed straight ahead into some trees.The fuselage and engine firewall were bent and wrinkled, and both of the wing leading edges received impact damage. A postaccident examination of the engine was not accomplished, nor was an engine test run attempted. ## Factual narrative On February 23, 2007, at approximately 2100 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 180, N9115C, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees during a night forced landing attempt near Bellingham, Washington. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. Western Alaska Sport Fishing Inc. was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal, night, cross-country flight, which had originated in Sitka, Alaska, approximately six hours before the accident. A visual flight rules flight plan had been filed and opened. The pilot said the route of flight was from Anchorage, Alaska, to Sitka, to Bellingham. The leg from Anchorage to Sitka was uneventful. After refueling the airplane, he continued on to Bellingham. He said all was normal until about 400 feet on final approach, when the engine lost power. The pilot said he landed straight ahead into some trees. Subsequently the left wing strut and spar were broken and the wing was drooping approximately 25 degrees down. The fuselage and engine firewall were also bent and wrinkled, and both of the wing leading edges received impact damage. A postaccident examination of the engine was not accomplished, nor was an engine test run attempted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9115C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9115C-2013-07-29), registration cancelled 2013-07-29, S/N 31214, 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: 31214 - Airframe hours: 3380 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Western Alaska Sport Fishing Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2006, 10 hours before - Departed: ASI, Sitka, AK - Destination: BLI, Bellingham, WA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BLI, Bellingham International, runway 16, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: BLI ## 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 20070223001659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070223001659A), Feb 23, 2007: Cessna 180, Bellingham, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) N9115C, cleared for final turn to rwy 16, aircraft crashed in the trees one half (1/2) mile north of airport, aircraft had substantial damage to… ## Other investigations on N9115C (3) 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 SEA98LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA167), Aug 15, 1998: Cessna 180 (N9115C), Anaconda, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A ground-loop resulting from the pilot's inadequate remedial action while attempting to correct for an inadvertent loss of directional control during the landing roll. Factors include the loss of… - [NTSB SEA95LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA113), May 28, 1995: Cessna 180 (N9115C), Phillipsburg, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE DUAL STUDENT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE FAILURE OF THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO TAKE ADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION AND RECOVER FROM THE… - [NTSB CHI67F0263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67F0263), Oct 8, 1966: Cessna 180 (N9115C), La Salle, MI, 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. --- 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.