# NTSB ATL04LA004: Cessna 180K, N77NP, Starkville, MS, October 4, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 4, 2003, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Starkville, MS - Coordinates: 33.419166, -88.833335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4192&lon=-88.8333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Jackson FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58091 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58091/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA004 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for a crosswind condition that resulted in the loss of directional control during a landing. A factor was the crosswind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis Upon arriving at the destination airport, the pilot established a visual approach to land on runway 18. The reported prevailing winds were 260 degrees at 4 knots. According to the pilot, while landing on runway 18, the right wing came up and the airplane ground looped. The pilot recalled that the left wing and stabilizer struck the ground as the airplane gyrated during the ground loop. A visual examination of the airplane revealed damage to both components. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the attempted landing. According to the pilot, he had accumulated about 250 flight hours in the Cessna 180K airplane. According to the Cessna 180K Pilot Operating Handbook, the demonstrated crosswind component is 12 knots. ## Factual narrative On October 4, 2003, at 1100 central daylight time, a Cessna 180K, N77NP, registered to and operated by the private pilot, ground looped during landing at the George M. Bryan Airport in Starkville, Mississippi. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and four passengers were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Madison, Mississippi, on October 4, 2003 at 1015. Upon arriving at the destination airport, the pilot established a visual approach to land on runway 18. The reported prevailing winds were 260 degrees at 4 knots. According to the pilot, while landing on runway 18, the right wing came up and the airplane ground looped. The pilot recalled that the left wing and stabilizer struck the ground as the airplane gyrated during the ground loop. A visual examination of the airplane revealed damage to both components. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the attempted landing. According to the pilot, he had accumulated about 250 flight hours in the Cessna 180K airplane. According to the Cessna 180K Pilot Operating Handbook, the demonstrated crosswind component is 12 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N77NP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N77NP-2021-05-02), registration cancelled 2021-05-02, S/N 18052937 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180K - Registry model: [Cessna 180K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180k) (registry code 2072624) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052937 - Airframe hours: 4920 - Engines: Continental O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Nolan D. Palmer - Registered owner: Nolan Palmer and Company LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 27, 2003, 10 hours before - Departed: MBO, Madison, MS - Destination: STF, Starkville, MS - Airport: STFQ, George M. Bryan Airport, runway 18, 5,051 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 650 total, 250 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: GTR ## 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 20031004023489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031004023489A), Oct 4, 2003: Cessna 180K, Starkville, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot landed with a crosswind, allowed wind to lift right wing and did not control the aircraft in a sufficient and timely manner. The aircraft… ## Other investigations on N77NP (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 ERA18LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA115), Mar 23, 2018: Cessna 180K (N77NP), Canton, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to land the airplane with a tailwind, which led to a runway excursion. Contributing to the pilot's decision to land with a tailwind was a partial loss of engine power due to his… 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.