20031026028439I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Cessna 180J · Denver, CO · October 26, 2003

Date: October 26, 2003 · 14:00 local
Place: Denver, CO
Airport: Front Range Airport
Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N9794G
NTSB investigation: NTSBDEN04LA016
Reported as: Cessna 180J
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,564 total23 in the last 90 days

N9794GRegistered now · Cessna 180JS/N 18052294 · Built 1972 Airframe modelCessna 180J Engine modelContinental O-470 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On 10/26/03, at 1400 hrs MDT, a Cessna 180J, N9794G, piloted by james walter tapp, landed on runway 26 at Front Range Airport (ftg) in watkins co. during the landing rollout the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft, and ground looped the aircraft to the right. During the time of the landing winds were reported from 260 degrees and shifting to 320 degrees at 10-14 knots. Mr. Tapp stated he felt he made a normal approach with the aircraft positioned with a 10-15 degree crab angle to the right, and that the touchdown was straight on centerline at normal speeds for a 3 point landing.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON 10/26/03, AT 1400 HRS MDT, A CESSNA 180J, N9794G, PILOTED BY JAMES WALTER TAPP, LANDED ON RUNWAY 26 AT FRONT RANGE AIRPORT (FTG) IN WATKINS CO. DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND GROUND LOOPED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT. DURING THE TIME OF THE LANDING WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 260 DEGREES AND SHIFTING TO 320 DEGREES AT 10-14 KNOTS. MR. TAPP STATED HE FELT HE MADE A NORMAL APPROACH WITH THE AIRCRAFT POSITIONED WITH A 10-15 DEGREE CRAB ANGLE TO THE RIGHT, AND THAT THE TOUCHDOWN WAS STRAIGHT ON CENTERLINE AT NORMAL SPEEDS FOR A 3 POINT LANDING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB DEN04LA016Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWatkins, COThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control resulting in the ground loop. Factors contributing to the accident were the crosswind and the gusts.Oct 26, 2003 · Substantial damage