- Date
- March 8, 2003, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- St Charles, MO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2732KCessna 180K
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20030308004119A
- Case key
- 56701
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 inadequate compensation for wind and his failure to maintain directional control resulting in a ground loop. A factor was the crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was substantially damaged during a ground loop while landing. According to the pilot he had checked the weather 20 minutes before the accident and had estimated the crosswind at 9 knots. The pilot stated that during the landing roll the airplane passed a row of hangars. He reported that as the airplane passed the last hangar the left wing started to "float." The pilot attempted to apply corrective actions but was unable to do so. The airplane subsequently ground looped.
Factual narrative
On March 8, 2003, about 1100 central standard time, a Cessna 180K, N2732K, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a ground-loop while landing on runway 27 (3,451 feet by 49 feet, asphalt), at the St. Charles Airport (3SQ), St. Charles, Missouri. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The local flight originated at 1045 from a private airstrip near Wentzville, Missouri.
According to the pilot, he had checked the weather 20 minutes before the accident. He stated that he estimated there would be a 9 knot crosswind on runway 27 at 3SQ. The pilot stated that during the landing roll the aircraft passed a row of hangers. The pilot reported that as the airplane passed the last hanger the left wing started to "float." The pilot stated that he added rudder and aileron control to correct the situation but was unable to do so. The airplane subsequently ground looped.
The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures.
The pilot had logged a total of 230.4 hours, of which 33.2 were in the same make and model as the accident aircraft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2732K
- Reported as
- Cessna 180K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18053046
- Airframe hours
- 9,849
- Engine
- Continental O-470U, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Danny and Lisa Clark Family Foundation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 22, 2002
- Departed
- PVT · Riddle, MO
- Destination
- 3SQ · St Charles, MO
- Airport
- 3SQ · St Charles Airport, runway 27, 3,451 × 49 ft, asphalt
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
- 49
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 230 total · 33 in this make and model · 158 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.79 inHg
- Observed at
- KSTL, 9 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.
Other investigations on N2732K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.