# NTSB ERA26LA141: Cessna 180, N2648Y, Charleston, WV, March 5, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 5, 2026, 16:26 UTC - Place: Charleston, WV - Coordinates: 38.36478, -81.58967 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3648&lon=-81.5897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 7, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202618 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202618/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA141 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with a helicopter dolly during taxi. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: ground equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After maintenance had been completed on the tailwheel-equipped airplane, the pilot performed a preflight inspection, after which the airplane was pushed from the hangar area and onto the airport ramp. The pilot then began to taxi the airplane between a parked van and a helicopter dolly. During the taxi, the airplane struck the helicopter dolly, resulting in substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2648Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2648Y), registered now, S/N 31676, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31676 - Year built: 1955 - Airframe hours: 5776 - Engines: Continental O-470-K 230 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2026, 0 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CRW, West Virginia Intl Yeager, runway 5, 6,715 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 20, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 15,465 total, 70 in this make and model, 14,893 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 11 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: CRW, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KCRW 051554Z 23011G19KT 10SM FEW035 SCT070 BKN095 22/13 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP187 T02170133 ## 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 20260305001049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260305001049A), Mar 5, 2026: Cessna 180, Charleston, WV, Substantial damage. A Cessna sky wagon (C180) single pilot / no passengers @ 10:51 EST; taxied aircraft (north) from maintenance hangar in the direction towards FBO following… 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.