# NTSB ANC11CA024: Cessna 180H, N2709X, Palmer, AK, April 9, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 9, 2011, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.594722, -149.088607
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5947&lon=-149.0886&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 12, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO-03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78828
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78828/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78828
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA024

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll resulting in a ground-loop.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was practicing stop-and-go landings and takeoffs in his tailwheel-equipped airplane. During the last landing he said the tail bounced to the right, and he did not respond aggressively enough to prevent the airplane from ground-looping. The airplane dragged the right wing on the runway sustaining substantial damage to the wing.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was practicing stop and go landings in his tailwheel equipped airplane. During the last landing he said the tail bounced to the right, and he did not respond aggressively enough to prevent the airplane from ground-looping. The airplane dragged the right wing on the runway, structurally damaging the wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2709X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2709X), registered now, S/N 18051509, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180H
- Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18051509
- Airframe hours: 4462
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John Ruehle
- Registered owner: Cmvii LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2010
- Departed: PAED, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: PAAQ, Palmer, AK
- Airport: PAAQ, Palmer, runway 16, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 28, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 6,700 total, 8 in this make and model, 5,300 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.37 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20110409008839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110409008839A), Apr 9, 2011: Cessna 180H, Palmer, AK, Minor damage. Pilot landed long, unable to keep aircraft longitudanaly lined up with the runway the aircraft ground looped. The ground loop caused the left tire to come off…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78828. 152 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347201&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

---
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.