# NTSB WPR21LA189: Cessna 180J, N31B, Arlington, WA, May 7, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 7, 2021, 16:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place: Arlington, WA
- Coordinates: 48.16075, -122.15902 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1608&lon=-122.1590&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103060
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103060/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103060
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA189

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent impact with terrain.

## 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 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)
- [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)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that before landing, the automated weather report for the airport indicated the wind from 250o at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots. During the landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane on runway 29, the airplane weathervaned hard to the left into the wind. Despite his actions to control the airplane during the crosswind landing, the airplane departed the runway, and both wings impacted terrain. The airplane came to rest in a nose down attitude. The right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that shortly after the accident, the wind had increased to 23 knots. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31B), registered now, S/N 18052431 (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: 18052431
- Year built: 1974
- Airframe hours: 11242
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bohon Todd R
- Registered owner: Bohon Todd R
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2020, 65 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: AWO, Arlington Muni, runway 11/29, 3,498 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 24,000 total, 2,050 in this make and model, 20,109 as pilot in command, 215 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observed at: KAWO
- METAR: KAWO 072256Z AUTO 28008G15KT 10SM BKN037 13/04 A3026 RMK AO2 SLP252 T01280044

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103060. 4.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12337630&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Faa-photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12541125&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array2-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.

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