# NTSB WPR12CA086: Cessna 180, N3242D, Cascade, ID, January 30, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 30, 2012, 10:29 local (17:29 UTC) - Place: Cascade, ID - Coordinates: 44.492221, -116.014724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4922&lon=-116.0147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 2, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82774 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82774/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82774 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA086 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for a wind gust during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was a windsock partially sheltered by trees that provided inaccurate wind information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 180, 64 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Meteorological services: other weather service](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03013035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Accuracy of related info (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03013035/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03013035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot and a witness, the landing approach was normal, and the airplane touched down in a three-point attitude close to the runway threshold and on the runway centerline. The airplane encountered a wind gust, became airborne again, drifted to the right, and touched down off the runway in an area covered with about 18 inches of snow. The pilot added power to recover, but the airplane’s main wheels sank into the snow, and the airplane nosed over onto its back, sustaining substantial damage to the horizontal and vertical stabilizers and to one wing. The pilot noted that no mechanical malfunction or failure contributed to the accident. The pilot stated that, if he had been aware of any wind gusts prior to landing, he would have conducted a wheel landing instead of a three-point landing. Witnesses familiar with the airport reported that trees partially sheltered the windsock from wind out of the south/southwest, which was the wind direction at the time of the accident, and, therefore, wind from this direction was not always accurately indicated by the windsock. ## Factual narrative The private pilot departed his home airport in his tailwheel equipped high-wing airplane. The destination airport was equipped with a single paved runway that measured 4,300 feet by 60 feet. According to the pilot and a ground witness, the runway was plowed full width, but there was about 1/2-inch of snow on the runway, and about 18 inches of snow on the terrain adjacent to the runway. Also, according to the pilot and the witness, the landing approach to runway 30 was normal, and the airplane touched down in a three-point attitude close to the threshold, and on the runway centerline. The airplane became airborne again, drifted to the right, and touched down off the runway, in the deeper snow. The pilot added power to recover, but the airplane main wheels sank into the snow, and the airplane nosed over onto its back. The pilot was uninjured, but the airplane sustained damage to the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, and to one wing. The pilot noted that no mechanical malfunction or failure contributed to the accident. The pilot stated that the airplane was upset by a wind gust, and that if he had been aware of any gusts prior to landing, he would have conducted a wheel landing instead of a three-point landing. The Federal Aviation Administration Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3) recommended the use of wheel landings in "turbulence or in crosswinds." The only airport windsock was located about midfield, on the southwest side of the runway. Based on their windsock observations, the pilot and ground witness estimated that the wind at the time was about 6 to 8 knots, out of the south or southwest. Witnesses familiar with the airport reported that the windsock generally provided reliable indications of the wind conditions, but trees partially sheltered the windsock from south/southwest winds, and therefore those winds were not always accurately indicated by the windsock. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3242D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3242D-2020-06-19), registration cancelled 2020-06-19, S/N 32040, built 1955 (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: 32040 - Airframe hours: 6871 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 2012 - Departed: ONO, Ontario, OR - Destination: U70, Cascade, ID - Airport: U70, Cascade, runway 30, 4,300 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 8, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 5,679 total, 5,100 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots, gusting 999 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F - Observed at: U70 ## 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 20120130001739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120130001739A), Jan 30, 2012: Cessna 180, Cascade, ID, Substantial damage. Aircraft bounced on landing on centerline of runway 30. Pilot attempted to perform a go-around but did not have the aircraft performance to do so. Aircraft… ## Other investigations on N3242D (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 GAA19CA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA336), Jun 10, 2019: Cessna 180 (N3242D), Ontario, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 2, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82774. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363504&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363505&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.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.