Cessna 180D accident near Eveleth, Minnesota, May 25, 1995
On May 25, 1995 at about 1:04 pm local time, a Cessna 180D, registered N8611X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eveleth, Minnesota (Sky Harbor Seaplane Base airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper setting of the flaps to the 30 degree position and an excessive descent rate during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1995 · about 1:04 pm local time
- Place
- Eveleth, Minnesota · Sky Harbor Seaplane Base · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180D · all 180Ds on the register
- Registration
- N8611X · registry record · serial 18015011
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE USED WHAT HE BELIEVED WAS 20 DEGREES OF FLAPS AND TURNED ONTO FINAL APPROACH AT AN AIRSPEED OF 80 KNOTS WITH THE POWER SET AT 15 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE. AS HE FLEW OVER THE TREES PRIOR TO THE THRESHOLD, HE HEARD THE STALL WARNING INDICATOR. HE APPLIED FULL POWER AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND THE RIGHT WING IMPACTED BUSHES ALONG THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT AND DISCOVERED THE FLAPS WERE IN THE 30 DEGREE POSITION. HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD NEVER LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN THIS CONFIGURATION BEFORE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,700 hours in all; 2,952 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 3,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,120 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1995; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MWK Milwaukee WI at 10:30 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 1,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.