# NTSB CEN22LA160: Cessna 180, N4738B, Lampasas, TX, March 30, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 30, 2022, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Lampasas, TX - Coordinates: 31.103693, -98.196258 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1037&lon=-98.1963&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104862 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104862/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104862 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA160 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to perform a takeoff from a perpendicular taxiway rather than the airport runway, which led to the airplane striking trees at the end of the departure path. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that when he landed, the landing was “rough” and right at the edge of the airplane’s crosswind capabilities. Due to the strong crosswind, the pilot said he thought he would be better off taking off into the wind from the perpendicular taxiway since it was more into the wind. He said that during the takeoff, the wind wasn’t as strong as he thought, and he wasn’t able to clear the trees that were in the departure path. A cell phone video of the accident provided by a witness was consistent with the pilot’s description of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left elevator, right wing, and right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The accident airport had one runway (16/34) and the recorded winds about the time of the accident were from 300° at 12 kts, gusting to 25 kts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4738B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4738B), registered now, S/N 31636, 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: 31636 - Year built: 1955 - Engines: Continental O-470 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: 30F, Dallas, TX - Airport: LZZ, Lampasas - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,500 total, 1,200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 12 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.64 inHg - Observed at: KLZZ - METAR: KLZZ 301715Z AUTO 30012G25KT 10SM CLR 20/06 A2964 RMK AO2 T01960062 ## 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 20220330004469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220330004469A), Mar 30, 2022: Cessna 180, Lampasas, TX, Substantial damage. On 03/30/2022, PIC of aircraft N4738B a Cessna 180 attempted takeoff from Lampasas Municipal Airport utilizing taxiway 90° to runway due to heavy crosswinds.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104862. 129 MB in all. - Record of conversation with pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14132586&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20with%20pilot-Rel.pdf - Witness video of the accident (item 2, MP4, 128 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14290200&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=My%20Movie-Rel.mp4 - Accident photos (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14131243&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.