Cessna 180 accident near Kutztown, Pennsylvania, May 29, 2008
On May 29, 2008 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N511MH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Kutztown, Pennsylvania (Kutztown Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2008 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kutztown, Pennsylvania · Kutztown Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N511MH · registry record · serial 30570
- 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 Cessna 180 was of a small stature and required the aid of additional seat cushions in order to operate the airplane. After completing an uneventful flight and landing on a turf runway, the pilot taxied the airplane clear of the area. While turning off the runway area, the nose of the airplane started to "drop." The pilot attempted to arrest the "drop" by pulling aft on the control yoke, but had to brace herself to do so. She then inadvertently stepped on the brakes, and the airplane "nosed over," resulting in substantial damage to the wing spar. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.
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 defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Unintentional use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 239 hours in all; 31 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,612 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1N9 Allentown PA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: N31 Kutztown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,221 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from RDG, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.