# NTSB DEN08LA070: Cessna 180H, N67WW, Glenwood Spring, CO, March 18, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 18, 2008, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Glenwood Spring, CO
- Coordinates: 39.509723, -107.315277
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5097&lon=-107.3153&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67779
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67779/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA070

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. Contributing to the accident was the strong left quartering tailwind and gust.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot said that as he approached his destination, AWOS reported the winds to be calm. Everything was "normal" as he crossed runway 32 threshold. The airplane touched down and the pilot felt a strong left quartering tailwind gust. The airplane lifted off and drifted to the right towards a snow bank, hangar, and fuel pump. The airplane touched down again and the pilot decided to commit to a landing, applying maximum brakes. The tail rose up and the propeller struck the ground. Post-accident examination disclosed the firewall was buckled.  The nearest weather reporting facility reported the wind from 300 degrees at 11 knots.

## Factual narrative

On March 18, 2008, approximately 1430 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180H, N67WW, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed down on landing at Glenwood Springs Airport (GWS), Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The cross-country flight originated in Santa Monica, California, approximately 0700 Pacific daylight time and, after refueling in St. George, Utah, departed at 1100 and was en route to GWS.

The pilot said that as he approached GWS, the Automated Weather Observation Station (AWOS) reported the winds to be calm. Everything was "normal" as he crossed the runway threshold. The airplane touched down and the pilot felt a strong left quartering tailwind gust. The airplane lifted off and drifted to the right towards a snow bank, hangar, and fuel pump. The airplane touched down again and the pilot decided to commit to a landing, applying maximum brakes. The tail rose up and the propeller struck the ground. Post-accident examination disclosed the firewall was buckled. The pilot reported no mechanical failures with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N67WW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N67WW), registered now, S/N 18051812, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 180H
- Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 118051812
- Airframe hours: 3600
- Engines: Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Max E. Wheeler
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2008
- Departed: SGU, St. George, UT
- Destination: GWS, Glenwood Spring, CO
- Airport: GWS, Glenwood Springs Municipal, runway 32, 3,305 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 315 total, 225 in this make and model, 265 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 11 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: RIL, 23 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).

- [Accident 20080318012709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080318012709A), Mar 18, 2008: Cessna 180H, Glenwood Sprin, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 18, 2008, during landing at Glenwood Springs, CO, airport, a Cessna 180, N67WW, was struck by a gust of wind lifting the aircraft back into the…

## Other investigations on N67WW (1)

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.

- [NTSB GAA18CA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA337), Jun 3, 2018: Cessna 180 (N67WW), Kanab, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

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.

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