# NTSB CEN22LA439: Cessna 180, N93330, Williston, ND, September 26, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 26, 2022, 13:39 local (18:39 UTC) - Place: Williston, ND - Coordinates: 48.252838, -103.74356 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.2528&lon=-103.7436&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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 Fargo FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106076 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA439 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106076/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106076 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA439 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing, which resulted in a ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); 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 reported that while the airplane was settling to the runway and he was making rudder corrections, a gust of wind lifted the left wing and the left main landing gear from the runway. The pilot was able to get the left main landing gear back on the runway, while still applying right rudder input. The airplane then ground looped, and the left wing and the left rudder impacted the runway. The airplane came to rest upright on the runway and the pilot was then able to taxi to the ramp. The airplane’s left wing and the left elevator sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the airplane was landing on runway 32 with winds light and variable with gusts to 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93330](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93330), registered now, S/N 31731, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 (UNDESIGNATED SERIES) - 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: 31731 - Year built: 1955 - Airframe hours: 4689.3 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-520-F 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jarvys Consulting LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 2022 - Airport: XWA, Williston Basin Intl, runway 32, 7,503 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 41; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 72.4 total, 53.1 in this make and model, 11.5 as pilot in command, 2.4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KS25, 34 nm away - METAR: KS25 261835Z AUTO 35009KT 10SM CLR 21/01 A3012 RMK AO2 ## 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 20220926020339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220926020339A), Sep 26, 2022: Cessna 180, Williston, ND, Substantial damage. Student pilot was solo, practicing takeoffs and landings in conventional gear airplane. Upon landing in 7 knot winds with slight crosswind, pilot lost control… ## Other investigations on N93330 (2) 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. - [NTSB SEA74DTI05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA74DTI05), Jul 15, 1973: Cessna 180 (N93330), Kalispell, MT, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC72DAG80](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC72DAG80), Nov 27, 1971: Cessna 180 (N93330), Tyonek, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106076. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14564431&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 493 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14564782&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-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.