# NTSB CEN13LA541: Cessna 180, N561AT, Gallup, NM, September 7, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 7, 2013, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Gallup, NM - Coordinates: 35.511112, -108.789443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5111&lon=-108.7894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - ABQ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88024 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA541 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88024/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88024 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA541 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane directional control during the landing roll due to his diverted attention. ## 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 180, 64 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072602), [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 180, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); 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) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane and that the landing roll was uneventful until he began retracting the wing flaps at a ground speed comparable to a "brisk walk." He reported that the airplane ground-looped after he inadvertently released left brake pressure while his attention was diverted with the mechanical flap handle. The pilot reported that although the airport's weather radio broadcast indicated a calm wind condition, there was a slight right crosswind during the landing. The pilot stated that the crosswind condition did not contribute to his loss of directional control during landing roll. Rather, the loss of control was due to his failure to follow his standard practice of bringing the airplane to a complete stop before completing any post-landing checklist items (including retracting the wing flaps). The pilot reported no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 2013, at 1330 mountain daylight time, a Cessna model 180 airplane, N561AT, was substantially damaged while landing at Gallup Municipal Airport (KGUP), Gallup, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which departed Portales Municipal Airport (KPRZ), Portales, New Mexico, about 1100. The pilot reported that the accident occurred as he was landing the tail wheel-equipped airplane on runway 06 (7,316 feet by 100 feet, asphalt). He stated that the landing roll was uneventful until he began retracting the wing flaps at a ground speed comparable to a "brisk walk." He reported that the airplane ground-looped after he inadvertently released left brake pressure while his attention was diverted with the mechanical flap handle. The left wing was substantially damaged when it impacted the runway during the ground-loop. The pilot reported that although the airport's weather radio broadcast indicated a calm wind condition, there was a slight right crosswind during the landing. The pilot stated that the crosswind condition did not contribute to his loss of directional control during landing roll, but rather his failure to follow his own standard practice of bringing the airplane to a complete stop before completing any post-landing checklist items (including retracting the wing flaps). The pilot reported no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation. At 1253, the KGUP automated surface observing system reported: variable wind direction at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 8,500 feet above ground level, temperature 28 degrees Celsius, dew point 6 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.25 inches of mercury. The airport elevation was 6,472 feet mean sea level. The calculated density altitude was 9,145 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N561AT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N561AT), registered now, S/N 32403, built 1956 (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: 32403 - Airframe hours: 5209 - Engines: Continental Motors O-470-K 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2012 - Departed: PRZ, Portales, NM - Destination: GUP, Gallup, NM - Airport: GUP, Gallup Municipal Airport, runway 06, 7,316 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 10, 2011; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,923.1 total, 230.6 in this make and model, 1,725.8 as pilot in command, 21.5 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: GUP ## 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 20130907016669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130907016669A), Sep 7, 2013: Cessna 180, Gallup, NM, Substantial damage. On September 7, 2013 at 1330 MDT a Cessna 180, N561AT, registered to john r taber ground looped after landing at Gallup Municipal Airport, Gallup, new Mexico,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88024. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 954 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation, John Taber (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation,%20John%20Taber%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement, Ken Hand (item 3, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401358&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement,%20Ken%20Hand-Master.PDF - Weather Reports (item 4, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401360&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.PDF - Density Altitude Calculation (item 5, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401361&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Density%20Altitude%20Calculation-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.