Cessna 180 accident near Howell, Michigan, August 18, 1990
On August 18, 1990 at about 8:19 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N4547B, was destroyed in an accident near Howell, Michigan (Livingston County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1990 · about 8:19 pm local time
- Place
- Howell, Michigan · Livingston County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N4547B · no longer on the register · serial 31446
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 590 hours in all; 472 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,300 ft; clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from LAN, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.