- Date
- October 26, 2003, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Watkins, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9794GCessna 180J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20031026028439I
- Case key
- 58279
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 aircraft control resulting in the ground loop. Factors contributing to the accident were the crosswind and the gusts.
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 pilot said he entered the traffic pattern for runway 26. He said his approach was normal and that he had 10 to 15 degrees of right crab to keep the airplane aligned with the runway centerline. The pilot said he touched down "on the center line at normal speeds for a 3-point landing." The pilot said, "After flap retraction and brief braking, I lost directional control." The pilot said the airspeed was inadequate to make a go-around. The airplane ground looped causing substantial damage to the left wing, left main landing gear, and forward fuselage. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. The reported wind conditions approximately 7 minutes before the accident were 340 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
Factual narrative
On October 26, 2003, at approximately 1400 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180J, N9794G, was substantially damaged when it ground looped during landing roll on runway 26 (8,000 feet by 100 feet, dry asphalt) at the Front Range Airport, (FTG) Watkins, Colorado. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant on board the airplane, was not injured. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The cross-country flight originated at Montrose, Colorado, at 1200, and was en route to FTG.
In his written statement, the pilot said he entered the traffic pattern for runway 26. He said his approach was normal and that he had 10 to 15 degrees of right crab to keep the airplane aligned with the runway centerline. The pilot said he touched down "on the center line at normal speeds for a 3-point landing." The pilot said, "After flap retraction and brief braking, I lost directional control." The pilot said he was too slow to make a go-around.
An examination of the airplane showed the left wing tip broken aft, and the outboard portion of the left wing and the left aileron bent aft and upward. The left main landing gear leg was bent aft. The forward fuselage showed bends and skin wrinkles. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems showed no anomalies.
At 1353, the reported wind conditions at FTG were 340 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9794G
- Reported as
- Cessna 180J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18052294
- Airframe hours
- 5,265.6
- Engine
- Continental O-470R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James W. Tapp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 26, 2003 · 57.2 hours before
- Departed
- MJT · Montrose, CO
- Destination
- FTG · Watkins, CO
- Airport
- FTG · Front Range Airport, runway 26, 8,000 × 100 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
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3
- Last flight review
- June 30, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,564 total · 750 in this make and model · 2,000 as pilot in command · 23 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 16 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.26 inHg
- Observed at
- DEN, 5 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.