# Accident 19980515009679A: Cessna 180, Abilene, TX, May 15, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 15, 1998, 15:54 local time
- Place: Abilene, TX
- Airport: Abilene Regional Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.3390° N, 99.6708° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3390&lon=-99.6708&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4775B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4775B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180 (registry code 2072602, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180
- Reported engine: CONT O470J
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 471 total, 52 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA230) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980515009679A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT GROUND LOOPED ON LANDING, ABILENE, TX (.4) DURING LANDING ROLL ON RUNWAY 35L, THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE APPROACH, AT ABOUT 300 FEET, HE NOTICED `LEFT CROSSWIND GUSTS.' AFTER NORMAL MAIN WHEEL CONTACT (WHEEL LANDING) THE `AIRCRAFT STARTED SCOOTING RIGHT WHILE TRYING TO WEATHERVANE TO THE LEFT.' THE REPORTED WIND CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS FROM 290 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 17 KNOTS. (-23) PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT ON RUNWAY 35L, A STRONG CROSSWIND GUST HIT THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE LEFT HAND SIDE, RAISED THE LEFT WING AND CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO "GROUND-LOOP." THE PILOT WAS EXPERIENCED IN CROSSWIND LANDINGS IN THE CESSNA 180. THIS AIRCRAFT IS NOTORIOUS FOR BEING UNPREDICTABLE DURING CROSSWIND LANDINGS, AND A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND LIKE THE ONE EXPERIENCED BY THE PILOT OF N4775B CAN OFTEN RESULT IN A "GROUND-LOOP" WITH EVEN THE MOST EXPERIENCED PILOTS AT THE CONTROLS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA230), May 15, 1998: Cessna 180 (N4775B), Abilene, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper compensation for the crosswind conditions resulting in a ground loop. A factor was the crosswind condition.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.