No fatalities

Landing Overrun Results in Fence Impact Following Wind Shift

Snohomish, WA, United States

On November 11, 2011, a CESSNA 180H operated by James Unger was involved in an aviation accident near Snohomish, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to land in a high, gusting, variable wind. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

During landing on a grass runway, a wind shift to tailwind led to a runway overrun and fence impact, damaging the left horizontal stabilizer, elevator, and wing.

Accident Details

The pilot reported that while landing on the grass portion of runway 15, the wind shifted from a crosswind to a tailwind. During the landing roll, the airplane was unable to stop before the end of the 2,430-foot-long runway. The airplane continued beyond the end of the runway and impacted a fence, resulting in structural damage to the left horizontal stabilizer, left elevator, and left wing.

Wind Conditions

The pilot stated that at the time of the accident, the wind was variable from 240 degrees at 25 knots gusting to 38 knots.

Mechanical Status

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Response/compensation

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 11 Nov 2011 CESSNA 180H accident near Snohomish, WA?

During landing on a grass runway, a wind shift to tailwind led to a runway overrun and fence impact, damaging the left horizontal stabilizer, elevator, and wing.

Were there any fatalities in the 11 Nov 2011 CESSNA 180H accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 11 Nov 2011 involved a CESSNA 180H, operated by James Unger, at Snohomish, WA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's decision to land in a high, gusting, variable wind.