# NTSB WPR25LA104: Cessna 180A, N7792A, Waterville, WA, February 20, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 20, 2025, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Waterville, WA · 2S5
- Coordinates: 47.656004, -120.05646
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6560&lon=-120.0565&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: 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
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199747
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199747/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199747
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA104

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing roll.

## 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 180A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072604), [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 180A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: snow/ice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/cases.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022060/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot receiving instruction reported that, during an instructional flight in a tailwheel equipped airplane, they were practicing crosswind takeoffs and landings. He performed a wheel landing and touched down left of the runway centerline, and during the landing roll, the left main landing gear contacted residual snow/slush on the runway near the base of a 3-ft tall snow berm. The airplane subsequently veered left and struck the snow berm on the runway edge before it came to rest nose low. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 25, with the wind from 160° at 6 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7792A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7792A), registered now, S/N 32689, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180A
- Registry model: [Cessna 180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (registry code 2072604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32689
- Year built: 1956
- Airframe hours: 3421.8
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 2024, 104.6 hours before
- Departed: 8S2, Cashmere, WA
- Destination: 2S5, Waterville, WA
- Airport: 2S5, Waterville, runway 07/25, 2,978 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 25, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 204.7 total, 7 in this make and model, 82.4 as pilot in command, 14.7 in the last 90 days, 4.1 in the last 30 days
- Flight instructor; age 82; injuries: none; military, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 24, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,570 total, 10 in this make and model, 4,725 as pilot in command, 11.2 in the last 90 days, 3.2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 0.25 statute miles
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observed at: KEAT, 17 nm away
- METAR: KEAT 201255Z AUTO 36004KT 1/4SM FZFG VV002 M01/M01 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP253 T10111011

## 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 20250220001089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250220001089A), Feb 20, 2025: Cessna 180A, Waterville, WA, Substantial damage. Lost control on landing, impacted snow berm and came to rest on the nose and right wing. Damage to right wing and fuselage.

## Other investigations on N7792A (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 UNK64X3063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3063), Jul 27, 1964: Cessna 180 (N7792A), French Meadow, CA, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199747. 4.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18409933&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Pilot%20WPR25LA104_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18460728&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20pic%20WPR25LA104-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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