# NTSB SEA96LA064: Cessna 180A, N9669B, Hillsboro, OR, February 27, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 27, 1996, 08:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Hillsboro, OR
- Coordinates: 45.580379, -122.909271 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5804&lon=-122.9093&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 31, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42341
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42341/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA064

## Probable cause

the failure of the pilot to identify the unsuitable taxi area, and the failure of airport maintenance personnel to properly identify a construction area.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi
  - airport facilities,taxiway condition - construction area (contributing factor)
  - other airport/runway maintenance - not identified, airport personnel (cause)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - not identified, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that after landing he taxied toward the fuel island.  Just prior to the island, the left main landing gear rolled into an open manhole and the left wing contacted the surface. Maintenance personnel had removed the manhole cover earlier in the morning and failed to set up warning cones around the area.

## Factual narrative

On February 27, 1996, at 0830 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 180A, N9669B, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR 91 personal flight, collided with an open manhole while taxiing to the fuel island at the Hillsboro Airport, Hillsboro, Oregon.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.  The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The flight originated from Independence, Oregon, about one half hour before the accident.

The pilot reported that after landing he was taxiing to the fuel island when the left main landing gear rolled into an open manhole near the fuel island.  The left wing contacted the surface, substantially damaging the wing and aileron.

Earlier in the morning, a work crew had removed the manhole cover, but did not place the orange warning cones around the area.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9669B (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 180A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32966
- Airframe hours: 4032
- Engines: Continental O-470 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Charles M. Milton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 10, 1995, 10 hours before
- Departed: 7S5, INDEPENDENCE, OR
- Airport: HIO, Portland-Hillsboro

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,830 total, 100 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HIO

## 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 19960227002779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960227002779A), Feb 27, 1996: Cessna 180A, Portland, OR, Substantial damage. During taxi to ramp left main gear rolled into open unmarked manhole near fuel island.

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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