N2790X

On June 23, 1995, approximately 1205 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180H, N2790X, registered to and being flown by an airline transport pilot, was substantially damaged during a nose over following a loss of control during a go around at Firstair Field, Monroe, Washington. The pilot sustained minor injuries. No flight plan had been filed and visual meteorological conditions existed at the time. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Arlington, Washington, approximately 1140.

The pilot reported that during the landing on runway 25, he bounced and thereafter initiated a go around. He reported that he applied full throttle and retracted the flaps from full to the first-notch setting and pushed the nose down to accelerate. He said the airplane seemed to hang in a stall and didn't accelerate. He said he had the feeling the engine wasn't developing full power, but he didn't have time to look at the engine instruments. The aircraft never gained more than about five to six feet in altitude. The aircraft then veered left off the runway into an area of high grass and began to decelerate rapidly during which contact with the ground followed. The aircraft then nosed over. The pilot observed that "trying to think back on those few seconds it was as if I were dragging a weight from the tail."

The aircraft was equipped with a Horton STOL ("Safer Takeoff & Landing") STC modification.