Cessna 180 accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1989
On June 14, 1989, a Cessna 180, registered N3420Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Allegheny CO. 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
LOSS OF CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLLOUT DUE TO EXCESSIVE APPLICATION OF BRAKES BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1989
- Place
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Allegheny CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N3420Y · no longer on the register · serial 18051920
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED A ILS APPROACH AND LANDED AT ALLEGHENY COUNTY AIRPORT. HE TRIED TO TURN OFF THE RUNWAY AT THE FIRST TAXIWAY AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT APPLIED EXCESSIVE BRAKING WITH THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT STILL IN THE AIR AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 1,890 as pilot in command; 1,600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AGC Pittsburgh PA at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft; scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.