Cessna 180J accident near Greenwood, Mississippi, May 23, 2013
On May 23, 2013 at about 3:34 pm local time, a Cessna 180J, registered N9996N, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Greenwood, Mississippi (Greenwood-Leflore airport). It was an instructional 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
A partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2013 · about 3:34 pm local time
- Place
- Greenwood, Mississippi · Greenwood-Leflore · 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
- N9996N · registry record · serial 18052651
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot stated that, after performing a simulated engine failure about 300 feet above ground level, he advanced the throttle to full power, but the engine would not develop full power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and maneuvered it for a forced landing to a nearby field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. No evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities were found with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. A review of meteorological data revealed that the airplane was being operated in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. The investigation could not determine if carburetor heat was used during the simulated engine failure; however, it is likely that if carburetor heat was not used, serious carburetor icing could have accumulated, which resulted in a loss of engine power.
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
- Simulated/training event during maneuvering
- Loss of engine power (partial) during maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 15,800 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 15,350 as pilot in command; 925 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 1, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 1 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,224 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470-RCS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GWO Greenwood MS at 3:00 pm
- Destination: GWO Greenwood MS
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KGWO, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9996N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.