Cessna 180 N4547B

Summary

On 18 August 1990 at about 20:19 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N4547B was involved in an accident near Howell, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 August 1990 at 20:19

Classification

Accident

Location

Howell, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Livingston County (3HE)

Coordinates

42.5997, -83.9309

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N4547B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI90FA235

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE ABOVE TERRAIN WHILE MANEUVERING DURING TAKEOFF. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO DISPLAY THE AIRCRAFT'S PERFORMANCE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING PREFLIGHT THE AIRPLANE OWNER WAS APPROACHED BY TWO VISITING PILOTS, ONE OF WHOM WAS INTERESTED IN BUYING THE SAME MODEL. AFTER A LENGTHY CONVERSATION, THE OWNER STARTED AND TAXIED. THE VISITORS RADIOED HIM AND ASKED FOR A RIDE. THE ACCIDENT PILOT CONSENTED AND SAID HE WOULD COME BACK FOR PICKUP AFTER A TURN AROUND THE PATTERN. THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF AND CLIMBED STEEPLY TO A 100-FOOT LEVEL-OFF. AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND 200 FEET, THE AIRPLANE TURNED RIGHT, OPPOSITE THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, AND CIRCLED BACK TO RUNWAY HEADING, THEN INCREASED BANK TO NEAR 90 DEGREES AND MAINTAINED IT UNTIL OUT OF SIGHT OF WITNESSES. THE AIRPLANE LOST ALTITUDE STEADILY FOR ONE HALF TURN TO GROUND CONTACT WHERE IT DRAGGED THE RIGHT WING AND CARTWHEELED. ANGLE OF BANK AT IMPACT WAS ABOUT 30 DEGREES AND RATE OF DESCENT WAS NIL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.