Cessna 180A accident near Kettle Falls, Washington, May 23, 2010
On May 23, 2010 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 180A, registered N9104R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Kettle Falls, Washington (Private Grass Strip 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 clearance from obstacles during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the reduced visibility due to precipitation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2010 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Kettle Falls, Washington · Private Grass Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180A · all 180As on the register
- Registration
- N9104R · no longer on the register · serial 32717
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that while in flight he encountered frequent isolated rain storms. During the approach there was light rain with good visibility. The pilot reported a normal touchdown and a reduction in forward visibility as the light rain became heavy rain. At approximately 150 feet from the end of the airstrip the pilot saw an 18 inch elevated driveway and applied heavy braking and right rudder resulting in a low speed skid. The left main gear impacted the driveway and the aircraft continued to slide over the road bed. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and firewall.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Response/compensation
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Rain › Effect on personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 11, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,566 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,655 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cada Cattle CO
The flight
- Departed from: 68S Davenport WA at 8:25 pm
- Destination: none Kettle Falls WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N9104R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.