- Date
- July 4, 2024, 08:02 local (13:02 UTC)
- Place
- Fayetteville, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N669CBCessna 180
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20240704009219A
- Case key
- 194628
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of directional control due to a muscle spasm.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
While on takeoff from the airport in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the pilot reported that as he applied right rudder, a muscle spasm shot through his right calf. The spasm resulted in the pilot’s foot pressing hard on the right rudder pedal. Before the pilot could regain directional control, the airplane’s tail swung left, and the airplane steered towards the runway edge. The airplane’s left main landing gear contacted a runway taxiway light collapsing the left main landing gear and the airplane settled on the left wing and ground looped. The pilot had already pulled the throttle back during the muscle spasm and the airplane skidded to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot said that he felt that his lack of proper hydration led to his muscle spasm. There were no reported mechanical malfunctions or failures that contributed to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N669CB
- Reported as
- Cessna 180 (J)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18052725
- Built
- 1976
- Airframe hours
- 7,031.6
- Engine
- Continental O-520, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mcalister Thomas K
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 12, 2024 · 10.1 hours before
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- FYV · Drake Fld, runway 16, 6,005 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 66
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 3, 2023
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 975.9 total · 777.8 in this make and model · 948.3 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- KFYV
- METAR
- KFYV 041253Z 17007KT 9SM CLR 28/23 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP132 T02830228
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 12.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N669CB · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.