Cessna 180 N2576K

Summary

On 17 October 2010 at about 13:30 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N2576K, operated by Clinton Goodhue, was involved in an accident near Summner, Maine, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 October 2010 at 13:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Summner, Maine, United States

Nearest airport

East Sumner (N/A)

Coordinates

44.6934, -69.3819

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N2576K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Clinton Goodhue

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sidney → Summner

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11CA024

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while on final approach resulting in an aerodynamic stall and a subsequent hard landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, while the airplane was on final approach at the destination airport, it encountered a downdraft and he was unable to arrest the descent rate, even with full power. A witness stated that the wind at the airport at the time of the accident was 8-10 knots. The nearest weather reporting station also reported that the wind was from 360 degrees at 6 knots. Another witness also reported that the pilot of the accident airplane would usually approach at a slow approach speed for landing. Review of a video recording that was made at the airport on the day of the accident also confirmed that there was little or no wind present during the accident, and that the airplane appeared to approach the runway at a slower airspeed than similar airplanes. Further review of the video also revealed that, while on short final, the airplane had developed a high sink rate and rapidly rolled to the right just prior to impact with the turf runway. No sound of an increase of engine power was recorded until just prior to ground contact. During an interview, the pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that during the accident the airplane incurred substantial structural damage to the landing gear assembly bulkhead.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.