# NTSB DEN00LA156: Cessna 180K, N61782, Douglas, WY, August 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 2000, 19:00 local (Aug 21, 2000, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Douglas, WY - Coordinates: 42.749378, -105.389717 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7494&lon=-105.3897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50039 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50039/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA156 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during landing roll. Factors were high winds and crosswinds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - inadequate certification/approval, faa(organization) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis During landing roll at the completion of a cross-country flight, the aircraft departed the left side of the runway and the right wing sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground. The landing was being made on runway 5 and the wind was from 010 degrees magnetic heading at 27 knots with gusts to 34 knots. This produced a calculated direct crosswind of 17 knots with a direct crosswind of 23 knots during peak gusts. In accordance with this aircraft's certification requirements established in 14 CFR Part 23, published crosswind limitations are not required. The demonstrated crosswind capability listed in the operating handbook is 12 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 2000, at 1900 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180K, N61782, sustained substantial damage and the pilot was not injured when the right wing contacted the ground during a crosswind landing at Douglas, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this cross-country personal flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a private airstrip at Chugwater, Wyoming at 1820. According to the pilot, when the flight arrived in the Douglas area he entered left traffic for a landing on runway 5. He said the wind was from the north and he maintained directional control for 300 to 400 hundred feet following touchdown and then lost directional control and the aircraft "weathervaned" to the left and departed the side of the runway. When the aircraft left the runway the right wing and propeller struck the ground. Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector revealed both spar and rib damage to the outer portion of the right wing. Recorded wind at the time of the accident was from 010 degrees magnetic heading at 27 knots with gusts to 34 knots. The direct steady state crosswind was computed to be 17 knots and the peak gusts produced a direct crosswind computed at 23 knots. According to the aircraft operating handbook, the demonstrated direct crosswind capability is 12 knots. In accordance with this aircraft's certification requirements established in 14 CFR Part 23, published crosswind limitations are not required. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61782](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61782), registered now, S/N 18052798, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180K - Registry model: [Cessna 180K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180k) (registry code 2072624) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052798 - Airframe hours: 2928 - Engines: Continental O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rodger V. Schroeder - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 11, 1999, 16 hours before - Departed: CHUGWATER, WY - Destination: DGW - Airport: DGW, Converse County, runway 5, 4,760 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 434 total, 376 in this make and model, 434 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 27 knots, gusting 34 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DGW ## 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 20000820013059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000820013059A), Aug 20, 2000: Cessna 180K, Douglas, WY, No damage. (-23) Pilot lost directional control during cross wind landing resulting in ground loop. Damage to right wing tip, outer two feet of wing (front and rear… 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.