# NTSB WPR20CA233: Cessna 180, N2929C, Bear Valley, AK, July 20, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 19, 2020, 19:30 local (Jul 20, 2020, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Bear Valley, AK - Coordinates: 61.057498, -149.72999 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.0575&lon=-149.7300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101654 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101654/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101654 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA233 ## Probable cause The pilot's over application of brakes during taxi, which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); 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 The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, after landing on a gravel runway, he was taxiing with speed to the turnaround point. He applied brakes, the tail of the airplane came up and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2929C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2929C), registered now, S/N 30829, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 (Undesignat) - 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: 30829 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 5689 - Engines: Continental O-520 265 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 29, 2019 - Departed: AQY, Girdwood, AK - Destination: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Airport: PVT, Bear Valley - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 637 total, 152 in this make and model, 583 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Day - Wind: 270° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: PAMR, 10 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 20200719010589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200719010589A), Jul 19, 2020: Cessna 180, Bear Valley, AK, Substantial damage. On 7/19/20 at 1942HRS local N2929C sustained substantial damage after it nosed over on its back after landing on a mountain ridge in Bear Valley Alaska. The… ## Other investigations on N2929C (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 LAX05CA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA219), Jun 29, 2005: Cessna 180A (N2929C), Big Bend, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot misjudged his clearance altitude above the surface of the lake, resulting in a collision with water. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101654. 948 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 683 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10028329&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA233%20NTSB%206120%20(Pilot)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Damage photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10029192&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20Photos_Redacted-Rel.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.