# NTSB DEN04LA016: Cessna 180J, N9794G, Watkins, CO, October 26, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 26, 2003, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Watkins, CO - Coordinates: 39.785278, -104.543052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7853&lon=-104.5431&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, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58279 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04LA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58279/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA016 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - ground ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9794G), registered now, S/N 18052294, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180J - Registry model: [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (registry code 2072622) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052294 - Airframe hours: 5265.6 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20031026028439I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031026028439I), Oct 26, 2003: Cessna 180J, Denver, CO, Minor damage. (-23) On 10/26/03, at 1400 hrs MDT, a Cessna 180J, N9794G, piloted by james walter tapp, landed on runway 26 at Front Range Airport (ftg) in watkins co. during… 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.