# NTSB WPR23LA088: Cessna 180K, N2875K, Agua Caliente Springs, CA, January 12, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 12, 2023, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Agua Caliente Springs, CA
- Coordinates: 32.955687, -116.29494
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9557&lon=-116.2949&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106595
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA088
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106595/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106595
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA088

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during an aborted approach, which resulted in a collision with terrain.

## 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 180K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072624), [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.

- [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he announced his position on the common traffic advisory frequency while inbound to land on his destination runway. Just prior to touchdown, the pilot observed an airplane landing directly in his path from the opposite end of the runway. To avoid a collision, the pilot added power and attempted to climb to the left, but impacted a berm, nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2875K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2875K-2024-01-12), registration cancelled 2024-01-12, S/N 18053111, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180K
- Registry model: [Cessna 180K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180k) (registry code 2072624) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18053111
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 5951
- Engines: Continental O-470-U17 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2022
- Departed: KMYF, San Diego, CA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: L54, Agua Caliente Springs, runway 29, 2,500 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 31, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,599 total, 2,530 in this make and model, 2,513 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 0.4 in the last 30 days, 0.4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observed at: KL08, 18 nm away
- METAR: 
METAR KL08 121935Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 18/M02 A3028 RMK AO2=

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106595. 10.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 9.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15457273&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N2875K_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 739 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15457114&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photograph-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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