Cessna 180 N53ES

Summary

On 16 April 2020 at about 20:30 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N53ES was involved in an accident near Marion, Montana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 April 2020 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Marion, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Cabin Creek Landing (97MT)

Coordinates

48.0739, -114.6778

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N53ES

Category

Airplane

Year built

1953

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bonners Ferry → Marion

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20CA124

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's loss of directional control and subsequent improper brake application during the landing roll in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a nose-over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane encountered a "heavy" wind gust that abruptly pushed the tail left. The pilot applied the brakes to regain directional control; however, as the "speed bled off," the elevator lost its effectiveness. The airplane nosed down, and the propeller then began striking the pavement, followed by the left wing, which sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.