# Accident 20180709009439A: Cessna 180, Cut Bank, MT, July 9, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 9, 2018, 12:00 local time
- Place: Cut Bank, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.6083° N, 112.3761° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6083&lon=-112.3761&mi=10
- Aircraft: N180GB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180GB) (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 MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,162 total, 200 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA404](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA404) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180709009439A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD DEPARTED RED DEER, ALBERTA FOR CUT BANK, MONTANA, ON A RETURN TRIP HOME AFTER AN 11 DAY FLYING/CAMPING VACATION. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE ON BOARD, BOTH PILOTS. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS FLYING, AS THE OTHER PILOT WAS NOT CHECKED OUT IN A TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT, AND WAS ACTING AS THE NAVIGATOR.  UPON ARRIVAL AT THE CUT BANK AIRPORT, THE ASOS REPORT WAS WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE.  THEY CIRCLED THE AIRPORT SEVERAL TIMES, AND OBSERVED THE WINDSOCK WAS INDICATING 5-7 KTS FROM THE W/SW DIRECTION.  RUNWAY 32  WAS CHOSEN FOR THE LANDING.  ON DESCENT, FROM 800? AND LOWER, MINOR TURBULENCE WAS INTERMITTENTLY ENCOUNTERED ON DOWNWIND, FINAL, AND BASE LEGS. ON FINAL, FLAPS WERE SET AT 3 NOTCHES (3/4 FLAPS) AND LEFT THERE DUE TO DENSITY ALTITUDE AND GUSTING WINDS. FINAL APPROACH SPEED WAS 70 MPH.

JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, A GUST ENCOUNTERED, AND ACFT FLOATED WITH THE POWER OFF. AFTER MAINS WERE ON THE GROUND, THE ACFT STARTED TO DRIFT RIGHT OF CENTER, LEFT RUDDER AND AILERON WERE APPLIED. WHEN THE TAIL WHEEL CONTACTED THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE IMMEDIATELY TURNED LEFT AND STARTED SLIDING.  RIGHT RUDDER WAS ADDED, BUT THE SLIDE TO THE LEFT CONTINUED. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, AND THE RIGHT WING AND RIGHT STABILIZER CONTACTED THE GROUND, DAMAGING THE RIGHT OUTER WING AND AILERON, AND THE RIGHT STABILIZER, WITH THE RIGHT GEAR BENT ALMOST 180 DEGREES UNDERNEATH THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED OFF THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY IN THE GRASS AND DIRT.

THE PROP DID NOT CONTACT THE GROUND.  NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS NOTED DURING INITIAL INSPECTION FOR DISASSEMBLY FOR FURTHER REPAIRS.

ALL CONTROLS OPERATED NORMALLY.

## 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 GAA18CA404](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA404), Jul 9, 2018: Cessna 180 (N180GB), Cut Bank, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

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.