Cessna 180J accident near Abingdon, Virginia, April 17, 2012
On April 17, 2012 at about 3:55 pm local time, a Cessna 180J, registered N180BA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Abingdon, Virginia (Virginia Highlands Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The passenger’s inadvertent blockage of the rudder pedals, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2012 · about 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- Abingdon, Virginia · Virginia Highlands Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N180BA · registry record · serial 18052419
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he made a visual approach for landing at his destination airport. He flared the airplane, and it touched down on the runway. The airplane started to veer to the left as he began to apply brakes. He attempted to apply right rudder, but the rudder would not move because his passenger had inadvertently stretched his legs out and blocked the rudder pedals. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and collided with a ditch. The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing and the fuselage. The pilot stated that he did not experience any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Rudder control system › Unintentional use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,375 hours in all; 960 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 3,375 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 11, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,495 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 24, 2011; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OMH Orange VA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: VJI Abingdon VA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 06, 4,471 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from VJI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.