# Accident 20260503007869A: Cessna 180A, Russellville, AR, May 3, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 2026, 11:14 local time
- Place: Russellville, AR
- Airport: Russellville Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.2592° N, 93.0935° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2592&lon=-93.0935&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5235D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5235D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 180A (registry code 2072604, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-470 series (registry code 17026, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 6,348 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC26LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA036) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260503007869A

## Narrative

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

PIC REPORTED A NORMAL WHEEL LANDING ON RUNWAY 07 AT RUSSELLVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT (KRUE). AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED TO APPROXIMATELY 35 -40 MPH, THE TAIL WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN WITH A SLIGHT VIBRATION. AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TAIL WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE MORE SEVERELY, AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE PIC APPLIED THE LEFT BRAKE AND RUDDER. HOWEVER, AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED, THE TAIL WHEEL VIBRATION INCREASED IN SEVERITY, AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO PULL AGGRESSIVELY TO THE RIGHT. CONTINUOUS LEFT BRAKE WAS APPLIED, BUT THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY IN A GROUND LOOP.  AS THE AIRCRAFT TURNED AND CAME TO A STOP APPROXIMATELY 190 DEGREES FROM ITS INITIAL RUNWAY HEADING, THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKE FREE, AND THE RIGHT FUSELAGE CRUMPLED.

## 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 ANC26LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA036), May 3, 2026: Cessna 180A (N5235D), Russellville, AR, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N5235D (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19870510025119I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870510025119I), May 10, 1987: Cessna 180A (N5235D), Paxson, AK, Minor damage. Landed on runway that was covered with 12 inches of soft snow. Aircraft nosed over onto it's back.

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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