Cessna 180 accident near Hilltown, Pennsylvania, July 26, 1990
On July 26, 1990 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N1ZT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hilltown, Pennsylvania (Gehris airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT RECEIVING TRAINING MISJUDGED THE AIRPLANE'S DISTANCE FROM THE RUNWAY AND ALTITUDE ABOVE THE TREES. IN ADDITION, THE CFI FAILED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SUPERVISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1990 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hilltown, Pennsylvania · Gehris
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N1ZT · registry record · serial 31597
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL-RATED PILOT WAS RECEIVING INSTRUCTION & TRAINING FROM A CFI IN PREPARATION FOR A BFR. DURING A LOW LEVEL APPROACH TO A PRIVATE STRIP, THE LEFT WING DIPPED AND STRUCK TREES AT THE APPROACH END OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT, CRASHED NOSE DOWN, LEFT WING LOW AND RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE CFI REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON GLIDE PATH, '... BUT A LITTLE LEFT OF CENTERLINE ... (PILOT) WAS CORRECTING SO (I) DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.'
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 330 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 1990; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N88 Doylestown PA at 12:15 pm
- Destination: Hatfield PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC90LA174.