- Date
- June 26, 2010, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place
- Cahokia, IL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2785KCessna 180K
- Defining event
- Landing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 21, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20100626040189A
- Case key
- 76477
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The fatigue failure of the axle's attaching bolts during landing.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he had a normal stabilized descent on his approach to land and flared about 50 feet above the runway before making a three-point touchdown. He said that during the roll the airplane tracked to the right and that he applied left rudder in response. He then heard a "bang" and the airplane moved abruptly and uncontrollably. The left wing and horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage when they contacted the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wheel and axle separated from its main landing gear. Two of the four bolts that attach the axle to the gear exhibited a separation consistent with fatigue.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he had a normal stabilized descent on approach and flared about 50 feet above the runway. He indicated he made a three-point touchdown. He said that during the roll the airplane tracked to the right and he applied left rudder. He stated that he heard a "bang" and the airplane moved abruptly and uncontrollably. The left wing and horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage when they contacted the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wheel and axle separated from its main landing gear. Two of the four bolts that attach the axle to the gear exhibited a separation consistent with fatigue.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2785K
- Reported as
- Cessna 180K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18053067
- Airframe hours
- 2,005
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-470 SERIES, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Michael B Minton
- Registered owner
- Two Rivers Ranch Service LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 24, 2009
- Departed
- H88 · Fredericktown, MO
- Destination
- CPS · Cahokia, IL
- Airport
- CPS · St Louis Downtown Airport, runway 12R, 6,997 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 14, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 423 total · 363 in this make and model · 349 as pilot in command · 41 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.81 inHg
- Observed at
- CPS, 1 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 23, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 684 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2785K · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.