# NTSB WPR09CA278: Cessna 180J, N5101Y, Bellingham, WA, June 7, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 6, 2009, 18:00 local (Jun 7, 2009, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Bellingham, WA
- Coordinates: 48.794166, -122.537498 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7942&lon=-122.5375&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73974
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA278
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73974/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73974
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA278

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while landing on Runway 16 the airplane experienced a slight bounce, then veered to the right off the runway. The weather observation system at the airport recorded southerly winds at 6 knots around the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that when landing on runway 16 the airplane experienced a slight bounce then veered to the right off the runway. The weather observation system at the airport recorded southerly winds at 6 knots around the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5101Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5101Y), registered now, S/N 18052550 (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: 18052550
- Airframe hours: 5895
- Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stephen W. Groves
- Registered owner: Stephen W. Groves
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2009
- Departed: KBLI, Bellingham, WA
- Destination: KBLI, Bellingham, WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: KBLI, Bellingham, runway 16, 6,701 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 31, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observed at: KBLI

## 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 20090607007689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090607007689A), Jun 7, 2009: Cessna 180J, Bellingham, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) On 06/07/2009 at approximately 17:13 PDT a Cessna 180J aircraft, serial number 18052550, [privacy data omitted] operated by [privacy data omitted] lost…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73974. 747 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 747 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315513&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.