Cessna 180D accident near Greenville, Maine, September 7, 2003
On September 7, 2003 at about 2:28 pm local time, a Cessna 180D, registered N6445X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenville, Maine. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate installation and inspection of an aileron cable by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a loss of control in-flight and subsequent collision with water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 2003 · about 2:28 pm local time
- Place
- Greenville, Maine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180D · all 180Ds on the register
- Registration
- N6445X · no longer on the register · serial 18050945
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was receiving a refresher course in seaplane flying. While conducting the fifth takeoff of the day, with the private pilot at the controls, the private pilot observed that he had no aileron control as the airplane lifted off from the lake. After the flight instructor assumed the controls, the airplane rolled to the right, impacted the water, and sank to a depth of 60 feet. Examination of the wreckage revealed that a turnbuckle was separated from the right aileron cable. The turnbuckle was not safety-wired. The airplane had accumulated about 55 hours of operation since it's last annual inspection. Examination of the airplane's engine maintenance logs revealed an entry that stated, "Removed and replaced left and right aileron control cables, 0752015-22. Replace aileron carry thru cable, 0510105-12, IAW Chapter 6-6-18 A,B,C. Rigged IAW par 6-20 A, thru I." The entry was signed and acknowledged, "I certify this Aircraft has been inspected I/A/W an annual inspection and determined to be in an airworthy condition."
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 450 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 16,000 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 26, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,055 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 2004; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,780 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Greenville ME at 2:28 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from GNR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.