Cessna 180K accident near Greenville, Maine, June 12, 1992
On June 12, 1992 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 180K, registered N2816K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenville, Maine (Greenville Seaplane Base airport). It was a positioning 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 PILOTS DECISION TO INITIATE A STEP TURN INTO THE WIND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CROSSWIND AND GUSTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1992 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greenville, Maine · Greenville Seaplane Base
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180K · all 180Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2816K · registry record · serial 18053087
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED ON WATER WITH WINDS FROM 320 DEGREES AT 25 KTS, WITH GUSTS TO 30 KTS. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, AND WHILE STILL ON THE STEP, HE TURNED THE AIRPLANE 40 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT FOR ADDITIONAL MANEUVERING ROOM, PRIOR TO MAKING A PLANNED 180 DEGREE STEP TURN TO THE LEFT. DURING THE INITIAL TURN TO THE LEFT, A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE AIRPLANE AND SUBMERGED THE RIGHT FLOAT DESPITE PILOT INPUT ON THE AILERONS. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER IN THE WATER.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,750 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 1,650 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,514 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 1992; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3B1 Greenville ME at 11:25 pm
- Destination: 52B Greenville ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 6,000 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.
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.