# Accident 20260913012269A: Cessna 180, Pagosa Springs, CO, September 13, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 13, 2026, 11:00 local time
- Place: Pagosa Springs, CO
- Airport: Stevens Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2828° N, 107.0577° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2828&lon=-107.0577&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9265C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9265C) (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: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,296 total, 1,882 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA321) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260913012269A

## Narrative

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

ON SUNDAY, 09/13/2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 AM LOCAL, A CESSNA 180, REGISTRATION ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, EXPERIENCED A RUNWAY EXCURSION AND SUBSEQUENT GROUND LOOP DURING LANDING ROLL AT PAGOSA SPRINGS AIRPORT. THE COMMERCIAL/PRIVATE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE UNINJURED, AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE.

THE PILOT HAD BEEN OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUOUSLY FROM THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, THE FLIGHTS WERE CONDUCTED IN SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL YOUNG EAGLES PROGRAM. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE FIFTH FLIGHT OF THE DAY ON SUNDAY.

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE DAY, SURFACE WINDS SHIFTED APPROXIMATELY 110 DEGREES. ON THE FINAL FLIGHT OUT OF FIVE, THE PILOT WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN WITH THREE NINE-YEAR-OLD PASSENGERS ON BOARD. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 11 OTHER AIRCRAFT OPERATING IN THE TRAFFIC CIRCUIT AT THE TIME. WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, AN INDIVIDUAL OPERATING THE AIRPORT UNICOM REQUESTED THAT THE PILOT EXECUTE A SHORT APPROACH, IF ABLE, TO ACCOMMODATE A TRAILING AIRCRAFT THAT HAD DECLARED A MINIMUM FUEL STATUS.

THE PILOT ACCEPTED THE REQUEST AND INITIATED A SHORT APPROACH. TO MANAGE THE PROFILE AND LOSE ALTITUDE RAPIDLY, THE PILOT SELECTED FULL FLAPS (45 DEGREES). THE REPORTED SURFACE WINDS DURING THE LANDING SEQUENCE WERE 260 DEGREES AT 5 KNOTS. THE PILOT'S OPERATIONAL PLAN WAS TO TOUCHDOWN AND VACATE THE RUNWAY AT THE FIRST AVAILABLE TAXIWAY TURN-OFF.

THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE WITH GOOD CONTROL. HOWEVER, DURING THE INITIAL GROUND ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT RUDDER CORRECTION, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO GRADUALLY DRIFT RIGHT. THE RIGHTWARD DIVERGENCE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED BEFORE FURTHER CORRECTIVE ACTION COULD STABILIZE THE AIRCRAFT.

THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY SURFACE AT APPROXIMATELY A 45-DEGREE ANGLE, AT WHICH POINT A GROUND LOOP OCCURRED. FOLLOWING THE SEQUENCE, THE PILOT AND ALL THREE PASSENGERS SUCCESSFULLY EGRESSED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY.

THIS REPORT IS SUBJECT TO AMEDMENT IN THE EVENT NEW INFORMATION IS FOUND.

## 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 CEN26LA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA321), Sep 13, 2026: Cessna 180 (N9265C), Pagosa Springs, CO, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

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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