Cessna 180 N7827K accident near Le Roy, Michigan

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while performing a go-around, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was attempting to land at a private, freshly mowed, grass airstrip about 800 ft long. The airplane touched down and bounced. The pilot reported that he waited for the airplane to “settle” and applied brakes upon contact with the runway, but the airplane did not decelerate as expected. The pilot attempted a go-around; however, the airplane was unable to sufficiently climb before it impacted trees past the end of the runway. The airplane came to rest nose down and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane to the north. The nearest reported wind, 14 miles north of the accident site, was from 230° at 9 knots gusting to 14 knots.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA265 for the full record.