- Date
- March 27, 2026, 12:55 local (17:55 UTC)
- Place
- Beloit, KS
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2785KCessna 180K
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 30, 2026
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Wichita FSDO
- FAA report
- 20260327004689A
- Case key
- 202720
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 failure to maintain directional control during the landing with a quartering headwind. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s runway selection based on the variable and gusting wind conditions.
Findings · 5
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
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that the final approach was stable; however, the winds were gusting according to the automated wind report he received during the approach to the airport. The airplane touched down on the runway centerline, and when the airplane’s tail came down, the airplane immediately began a left turn and the right wing began to lift. The pilot attempted to correct with rudder and aileron inputs along with brakes; however, the left wing tip contacted the runway and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear separated, and the airplane came to rest on the edge of the runway. The left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 36 with variable winds from 030° to 040° at 18 knots and gusting to 23 knots. The pilot stated the accident could have been prevented if he would have chosen to use the turf runway that was oriented more directly into the wind.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2785K
- Reported as
- Cessna 180K (180)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18053067
- Built
- 1979
- Airframe hours
- 2,420
- Engine
- Continental Motors O-470-50, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pontiac Flying LLC
- Registered owner
- Pontiac Flying LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 11, 2026 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- KPNT · Pontiac, IL
- Destination
- K61 · Beloit, KS
- Airport
- K61 · Moritz Meml, runway 36, 4,300 × 75 ft, concrete
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot
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
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Waiver time limited special
- Last flight review
- April 18, 2025
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 14,300 total · 116 in this make and model · 14,200 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.65 inHg
- Turbulence
- Light
- Observed at
- KCNK, 23 nm away
- METAR
- METAR KCNK 271655Z AUTO 02018G25KT 10SM CLR 08/M04 A3065 RMK AO2 PK WND 04027/1616 SLP385 T00831044
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.6 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 N2785K · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.