# NTSB CEN12LA168: Cessna 180H, N3SM, Conroe, TX, February 21, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 21, 2012, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Conroe, TX - Coordinates: 30.3525, -95.414443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3525&lon=-95.4144&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82958 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82958/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82958 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA168 ## 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 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) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3SM), registered now, S/N 18051488, built 1964 (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: 18051488 - Airframe hours: 1711 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; 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 - Student pilot; age 56; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20120221003649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120221003649A), Feb 21, 2012: Cessna 180H, Conroe, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot in command (PIC) was giving instruction to his friend on take offs and landings in a tail wheel aircraft. When on the second landing the aircraft veered… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82958. 587 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 565 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385470&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385471&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-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.