Cessna 180 accident near Le Roy, Michigan, July 14, 2024
On July 14, 2024 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 180, registered N7827K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Le Roy, Michigan (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while performing a go-around, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2024 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Le Roy, Michigan · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 J, built 1976 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N7827K · registry record · serial 18052761
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to land at a private, freshly mowed, grass airstrip about 800 ft long. The airplane touched down and bounced. The pilot reported that he waited for the airplane to “settle” and applied brakes upon contact with the runway, but the airplane did not decelerate as expected. The pilot attempted a go-around; however, the airplane was unable to sufficiently climb before it impacted trees past the end of the runway. The airplane came to rest nose down and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. 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 the airplane to the north. The nearest reported wind, 14 miles north of the accident site, was from 230° at 9 knots gusting to 14 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet surface › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,358 hours in all; 142 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 3,286 as pilot in command; 975 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 5, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,647.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2024; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors O-470-S2B (piston); 838 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCAD Cadillac MI at 6:55 pm
- Destination: PVT Leroy MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 010, 875 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KCAD, 14 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCAD 141855Z AUTO 23009G14KT 10SM SCT029 28/20 A2990 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 8, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.