# NTSB WPR23LA224: Cessna 180, N1778C, Agness, OR, June 10, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 10, 2023, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Agness, OR · Rogue River - Coordinates: 42.4895, -124.2094 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4895&lon=-124.2094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 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): 192357 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192357/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192357 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA224 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed and decision to touch down on the surface of the water, resulting in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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 the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he decided to land on a gravel bar. Slightly before the gravel bar, he touched the main landing gear on the water prior to the gravel bar. He realized the airplane’s ground speed was too low and the airplane’s tail “started to come up”. He added full engine power and “up elevator,” but the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, in 1-2 feet of water. The rudder was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1778C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1778C-2024-11-23), registration cancelled 2024-11-23, S/N 30478 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30478 - Year built: 1953 - Airframe hours: 3747 - Engines: Continental O-470J 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 2023 - Departed: S05, Bandon, OR - Destination: n/a, Agness, OR - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 26, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,350 total, 60 in this make and model, 2,250 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 65 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: N/A ## 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 20230610010769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230610010769A), Jun 10, 2023: Cessna 180, Agness, OR, Substantial damage. Departed bandon with the intention of landing on a gravel bar on the rogue river near Agness, Oregon that they frequently flew to. Flew down the coast and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192357. 27.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 27.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15762664&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA224_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15783774&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA224_photo_508-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.