- Date
- February 21, 2012, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place
- Conroe, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3SMCessna 180H
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 13, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20120221003649A
- Case key
- 82958
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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed intervention and the pilot’s lack of experience in tailwheel airplanes.
Findings · 4
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
During a personal flight, the flight instructor, who occupied the right seat, allowed the private pilot, who occupied the left seat, to practice landings in the tailwheel airplane. During the second landing, the airplane veered sharply off the runway centerline. The flight instructor took over the controls but was unable to regain directional control of the airplane. The left wingtip contacted the runway, and the airplane ground looped.
Factual narrative
On February 21, 2012, about 1715 central standard time, a Cessna 180H, N3SM, ground looped during landing on runway 14 at Lone Star Executive Airport (CXO), Conroe, Texas. The airline transport pilot (ATP) and a private pilot were uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar, left elevator, and stabilizer. The airplane was registered to and operated by the (ATP) pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight that departed from CXO about 1630. The right seat pilot held an airline transport pilot and flight instructor certificates and was a friend of the left seat pilot who held a private pilot certificate. The right seat pilot had a tailwheel endorsement. The left seat pilot did not have a tailwheel endorsement. The right seat pilot said that they departed on a personal flight that remained in the local area. About 45 minutes after departure, they returned to CXO to practice landings. The left seat pilot performed the first landing and subsequent takeoff, which was "normal." During the second landing by the left seat pilot, the airplane veered "sharply" off the runway centerline. The right seat pilot took the controls from the left seat pilot and was unable to regain directional control of the airplane. The left wingtip contacted the runway, and the airplane ground looped.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3SM
- Reported as
- Cessna 180H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18051488
- Airframe hours
- 1,711
- Engine
- Continental IO550D278, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pilot
- Registered owner
- Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 2011
- Departed
- CXO · Conroe, TX
- Destination
- CXO · Conroe, TX
- Airport
- CXO · Lone Star Executive Airport, runway 14, 6,000 × 150 ft, concrete
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private, Flight instructor, Airline transport, Flight engineer
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Multi-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 1, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 20,000 total · 700 in this make and model · 18,000 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 55 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 470 total · 10 in this make and model · 400 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- CXO
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 587 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.