# NTSB CEN11LA579: Cessna 180, N3316D, Stillwater, OK, August 16, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2011, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Stillwater, OK - Coordinates: 36.157028, -97.083765 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1570&lon=-97.0838&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 81522 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA579 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81522/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81522 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA579 ## Probable cause The pilot's on-ground loss of control during the landing roll upon encountering a sudden wind shift and gust. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis During landing, the airplane touched down on the main wheels, and, while the tail was still in the air, the airplane started to weathervane and swerved hard to the right. The left wing struck the runway, and the airplane nosed over. A postaccident examination revealed no anomalies. According to the airport's weather reporting station, at the time of the landing, the wind shifted from 180 degrees at 3 knots to 330 degrees at 14 knots with gusts to 25 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2011, approximately 1845 central daylight time, a Cessna 180, N3316D, nosed over on landing at Stillwater Regional Airport (KSWO), Stillwater, Oklahoma. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The airplane was being operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from KSWO approximately 1730. According to the pilot, he had made 2 full stall and 3 wheel landings. The control tower cleared him for the option to runway 17. He configured the airplane for a wheel landing. The airplane touched down and during the rollout, with the tail still in the air, the airplane started to weathervane with the wind and swerved hard to the right. The left wing struck the runway and the airplane nosed over. A postaccident examination revealed no anomalies. According to the airport's weather reporting station, the wind had been from 180 degrees at 3 knots, then it shifted to 330 degrees at 14 knots, with gusts to 25 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3316D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3316D-2018-03-02), registration cancelled 2018-03-02, S/N 32114, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32114 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470-K 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David A. Roberts - Registered owner: Russell M. Davis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KSWO, Stillwater, OK - Destination: KSWO, Stillwater, OK - Airport: KSWO, Stillwater Regional, runway 17, 6,002 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 16, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 171 total, 17 in this make and model, 109 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 14 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KSWO ## 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 20110816016149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110816016149A), Aug 16, 2011: Cessna 180, Stillwater, OK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated wind shifted during landing on runway 17...180 degrees as front moved in. Loss control of aircraft while rolling out 1,500' before flipping tail… ## Other investigations on N3316D (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 LAX67D0007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX67D0007), May 30, 1966: Cessna 180 (N3316D), China Lake Ns, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 8, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81522. 719 KB in all. - NTSB Form 6120, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 674 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356337&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.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.