# Accident 20040414010989A: Cessna 180A, Las Vegas, NM, April 14, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 14, 2004, 17:30 local time
- Place: Las Vegas, NM
- Airport: Las Vegas Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.6550° N, 105.1417° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6550&lon=-105.1417&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8956Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8956Q-2010-05-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180A (registry code 2072604, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-470-4 (registry code 17368, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-470-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,270 total, 200 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN04CA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA062) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040414010989A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON APRIL 14, 2004, AT 1730 MST, A CESSNA 180A, N8956Q, REGISTERED TO JOHN FEGARAS, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WING TIPS, LEFT AILERON, AND TAIL WHILE ATTEMPTING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT WAS ENROUTE FROM TUCSON AZ TO COLORADO SPRINGS, CO AND STOPPED FOR FUEL AT LAS VEGAS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, LAS VEGAS, NM, WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AFTER FUELING, THE PILOT TAXIED WITH THE INTENTION OF DEPARTING RUNWAY 20, BUT WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPORT AND TAXIED INSTEAD TO RUNWAY 14. ALTHOUGH HE ESTIMATED WINDS AT 230-240 DEGREES AT 25 KTS, THE PILOT FELT THAT HE COULD SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE TAKEOFF. UPON DEPARTURE HE ENCOUNTERED STRONG CROSSWINDS AND ATTEMPTED TO LIFT OFF. AS HE LIFTED THE TAIL, THE AIRCRAFT WAS CAUGHT BY A GUST OF WIND AND CAME TO REST ON THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY UPSIDE DOWN. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.

## 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 DEN04CA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA062), Apr 14, 2004: Cessna 180A (N8956Q), Las Vegas, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's decision to takeoff in wind conditions that consisted of a quarterly tailwind and a crosswind in excess of the maximum demonstrated crosswind component, and his failure to maintain…

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.

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