CESSNA 180

Full Narrative

On August 6, 2016, about 1515 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 180E airplane, N2601Y, impacted a building near Cardington, Ohio. The commercial rated pilot received minor injuries and the airplane was destroyed during the accident. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

The pilot reported he planned to land on a small (1,950 ft by 40 ft) private grass runway. Initially, he planned to land to the east; however, he noticed some people on the ground and elected to maneuver to land on runway 24. The airplane touched down with the flaps fully extended; the airplane floated and then drifted right, so he decided to go-around. He advanced the throttle to full forward and added that the airplane felt "anemic" but the engine gauges appeared normal. At the end of the runway he rotated for takeoff, and the airplane started to slowly climb. The next thing he remembered was seeing the building in his windscreen.

The airplane impacted a small pole-barn; just past the end of the runway. The pilot managed to exit the airplane, before a post-crash fire engulfed the airplane.

The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector noted that the airplane was destroyed by the impact and post-crash fire, and that the airplane had recent engine work done. The pilot, who was also an aircraft mechanic, reported that the engine had accumulated about 2 hours since a top overhaul. A visual inspection of the engine did not note any obvious discrepancies; however, fire/thermal damage to the engine prevented a detailed examination.

The carburetor icing probability chart included in Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin No. CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, indicated that the airplane was operating in an area that was associated with a serious risk of carburetor ice formation at glide power settings.