# NTSB ERA19TA223: Cessna 180, N52031, Okeechobee, FL, July 7, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: July 7, 2019, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Okeechobee, FL - Coordinates: 27.266666, -80.85028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2667&lon=-80.8503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99812 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19TA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99812/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99812 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA223 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional while landing with a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a ground loop. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The tailwheel-equipped airplane touched down on the runway centerline in a 7-knot right quartering tailwind and started to drift left. The pilot corrected with right rudder input, but the airplane started to drift left again. He then applied right brake and rudder input, and the airplane changed direction 30°; however, the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer contacted the runway before the airplane came to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left elevator, and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 2019, about 1000 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 180J, N52031, was substantially damaged while landing at Okeechobee County Airport (OBE), Okeechobee, Florida. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, about 0900. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down on the runway 5 centerline and started to drift left. He corrected with right rudder input, but the airplane started to drift left again. He then applied right brake and rudder input, and the airplane changed direction 30°; however, the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer contacted the runway before the airplane came to a stop. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Review of damage photographs provided by the pilot revealed substantial damage to the left wing, left elevator, and left horizontal stabilizer. The recorded wind at OBE, at 0955, was from 200° at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N52031 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 (J) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052451 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 20 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 2019, 5,579 hours before - Departed: FXE, Fort Lauderdale, FL - Destination: OBE, Okeechobee, FL - Airport: OBE, Okeechobee County Airport, runway 05, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 2, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 25,179 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KOBE ## 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 20190707009379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190707009379A), Jul 7, 2019: Cessna 180J, Okeechobee, FL, Substantial damage. Airman provided that he just loss control of aircraft during landing and ground looped the aircraft, wind and weather not being a factor. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99812. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475225&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Report (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475226&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 445 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475227&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.PDF 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.