# NTSB CEN16LA138: Cessna 180D, N180XV, Shiprock, NM, March 31, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 31, 2016, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Shiprock, NM - Coordinates: 36.698333, -108.700553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6983&lon=-108.7006&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 16, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92935 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92935/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92935 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA138 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after encountering a sudden change in wind direction during the landing roll. ## 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 180D, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072610), [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 180D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/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 180D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072610), [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) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 180D, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072610), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, shortly after he had completed a three-point landing, a left quartering tailwind gust caused the tailwheel-equipped airplane to veer to the right. The pilot was unable to regain directional control before the airplane departed the right side of the runway into a drainage ditch. The right main landing gear collapsed during the runway excursion, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that, about 25 minutes before landing, he obtained the current weather conditions from the closest aviation weather station, which was located about 23 miles from the destination airport, and that the reported surface wind was from 200 degrees at 4 knots. A postaccident review of available weather data established that the surface wind was likely variable in direction at 5 knots. Although the surface wind was considered light and variable, a sudden change in wind direction shortly after touchdown likely contributed to the pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll. ## Factual narrative On March 31, 2016, about 1145 mountain daylight time, a Cessna model 180D single-engine airplane, N180XV, was substantially damaged while landing at Shiprock Airstrip (5V5), near Shiprock, New Mexico. The airline transport pilot sustained serious injuries. The passenger was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by TumiAir, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that had departed from Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO), Durango, Colorado, about 1100.The pilot reported that while enroute he obtained the current weather conditions at Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN), Farmington, New Mexico. According to the pilot, at 1120, the surface wind at FMN was 200 degrees at 4 knots. Upon reaching 5V5, the pilot completed an overflight of airport before entering a left traffic pattern for runway 20 (4,840 feet by 75 feet, asphalt). The pilot made a normal three-point landing, at about 50 miles per hour, with the wing flaps extended to 30 degrees. The pilot reported that shortly after touchdown a left quartering tailwind gust caused the airplane to veer to the right. The pilot stated that he was unable to regain directional control before the airplane departed the right side of the runway into a drainage ditch. The right main landing gear collapsed during the runway excursion and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder sustained substantial damage during the accident. The closest aviation weather station was located at Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN), Farmington, New Mexico, about 23 miles east-northeast of the accident site. At 1153, the FMN automated surface observing system reported: a variable surface wind direction at 5 knots, surface visibility 10 statute miles, clear sky, temperature 7 degrees Celsius, dew point -7 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.89 inches of mercury. The weather station's previous hourly report, issued at 1053, indicated that the surface wind had been light-and-variable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N180XV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N180XV-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 18050998, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180D - Registry model: [Cessna 180D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180d) (registry code 2072610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470R](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470r) (registry code 17071, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18050998 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 5308.5 - Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 2015 - Departed: DRO, Durango, CO - Destination: 5V5, Shiprock, NM - Airport: 5V5, Shiprock Airstrip, runway 20, 4,840 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 29, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,700 total, 800 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: FMN, 23 nm away ## 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 20160331005219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160331005219A), Mar 31, 2016: Cessna 180D, Shiprock, NM, Substantial damage. On March 31, 2016, at 12:26 MDT, a Cessna 180-D registered to tumminaro, inc, lost control after touchdown while landing at Shiprock airport, in Shiprock, NM,… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 21, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92935. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 898 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439212&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (Joseph Tumminaro) (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20(Joseph%20Tumminaro)-Master.PDF - Passenger Statement (Ryan Arroyo) (item 3, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement%20(Ryan%20Arroyo)-Master.PDF - Weather Information (item 4, .PDF, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40439215&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Information-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.