# NTSB WPR24LA043: Cessna 180J, N9991N, Modesto, CA, November 29, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 28, 2023, 16:40 local (Nov 29, 2023, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Modesto, CA
- Coordinates: 37.63, -120.95 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6300&lon=-120.9500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- 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: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193447
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193447/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193447
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA043

## Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a nose over.

## 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 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)
- [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)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180J, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072622), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while landing in a tailwind, he lost directional control on the tail wheeled airplane, and it veered to the left. Subsequently, the main gear exited the runway surface and resulted in the airplane nosing over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and left-wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9991N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9991N), registered now, S/N 18052646, built 1975 (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: 18052646
- Year built: 1975
- Airframe hours: 5800
- Engines: Continental O-470 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 31, 2023
- Departed: MYF, San Diego, CA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MOD, Modesto City-County-Harry Sham Fld, runway 10L/28R, 5,904 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 28, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,615 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KMOD
- METAR: KMOD 282353Z COR 14004KT 10SM CLR 17/01 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP179 T01670006 10178 20083 56018

## 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 20231128018989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231128018989A), Nov 28, 2023: Cessna 180J, Modesto, CA, Substantial damage. On November 28, 2023, on a flight from kmyf to kmod while landing at kmod the pilot loses control of the airplane. The landing is captured by video. The video…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193447. 8.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 7.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16448144&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident pictures (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16448248&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA043%20Accident%20Pictures-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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