- Date
- February 4, 2001
- Place
- Clovis, NM
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N180PGCessna 180K
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 27, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20010204001709A
- Case key
- 51442
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, which resulted in the subsequent swerve of the airplane. Contributing factors were the pilot's lack of experience in make and model and his diverted attention while attempting to adjust the trim.
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 private pilot, and sole occupant, was practicing touch-and-go landings and after landing and applying full power for take-off, as he attempted to adjust the trim. The airplane swerved to the left, and then hopped. The right main landing gear collapsed causing the prop and right wing to strike the runway. Then it swerved to the left side of the runway and stopped. The right wing outboard of the wing strut was bent up approximately 40 degrees. The right main landing gear, the fuselage between the landing gear attachment points and the propeller were also damaged. At the time of the accident, the pilot had 54 hours total time, 27 hours as pilot in command, 9 hours in make and model, and 4 hours within the last 30 and 90 days.
Factual narrative
On February 4, 2001, at approximately 0820 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180K, N180PG, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a touch-and-go landing at Clovis Municipal Airport, Clovis, New Mexico. The private pilot and sole occupant was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for this local personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at approximately 0815.
According to the pilot, he was practicing touch-and-go landings on runway 04. After landing and applying full power for takeoff, he attempted to adjust the trim. The airplane swerved to the left, and then hopped. The right main landing gear collapsed causing the prop and right wing to strike the runway. Then it swerved to the left side of the runway and stopped. The right wing outboard of the wing strut was bent up approximately 40 degrees. The right main landing gear, the fuselage between the landing gear attachment points and the propeller were also damaged.
According to the pilot's accident report, at the time of the accident, he had 54 hours total time, 27 hours as pilot in command, 9 hours in make and model, and 4 hours within the last 30 and 90 days.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N180PG
- Reported as
- Cessna 180K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18053135
- Airframe hours
- 2,898
- Engine
- Continental O-470-50, 265 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Blake Curtis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 1, 2001 · 22 hours before
- Departed
- KCVN · Clovis, NM
- Destination
- KCVN · Clovis, NM
- Airport
- CVN · Clovis Municipal, runway 04, 6,200 × 150 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
- 19
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- August 24, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 54 total · 9 in this make and model · 27 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.39 inHg
- Observed at
- KCVN
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.