Cessna 180H accident near Ione, Oregon, August 16, 2015
On August 16, 2015 at about 11:10 pm local time, a 1972 Cessna 180H, registered N28RR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Ione, Oregon (Jepsen Farm Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2015 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ione, Oregon · Jepsen Farm Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180H, built 1972 · all 180Hs on the register
- Registration
- N28RR · no longer on the register · serial 18052241
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he chose to land on the runway with an upslope and with a tailwind. During the landing roll, the airplane was left of the runway centerline and the pilot added right rudder to get back to the middle of the runway. The airplane veered right and despite control inputs from the pilot, the airplane continued right, and exited the runway. The airplane crossed a gravel road, impacted terrain and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, rudder, and horizontal stabilizer. The wind reported from a nearby weather station were 40 degrees at 7 knots about the time of the accident. The pilot reported he was landing to the south. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,432 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,225 as pilot in command; 447 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 18, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,074 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4S9 Portland-Mulino OR at 9:41 pm
- Destination: NONE Ione OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway S, 2,500 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KHRI, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 11, 2015. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1 – Left Wing (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 2 – Right Side of Airplane (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N28RR 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.