- Date
- March 8, 1993, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Albuquerque, NM
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7770KCessna 180J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 10, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930308004649A
- Case key
- 18709
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
Aircraft control not maintained by the pilot. A factor was vibration in the tailwheel for undetermined reasons.
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
During a landing at a local airport, the pilot reported that he experienced vibration in the airplane on a previous landing, which he felt originated in the tailwheel. The pilot and a mechanic tightened the tailwheel nut. The pilot elected to proceed to his next destination and during the landing the vibration recurred. During the landing roll, the airplane veered off the runway and ground looped. An examination of the tailwheel revealed no anomalies.
Factual narrative
On March 8, 1993, at approximately 1530 mountain standard time, during the landing roll at Double Eagle II Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico, a Cessna 180J, N7770K, was substantially damaged following a loss of control. The private pilot did not sustain injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the accident site. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Damage involved the left wing and left elevator.
During an interview with the pilot by the FAA inspector, the pilot stated the facts in this paragraph. The tailwheel developed a "severe vibration" during a landing at the Coronado Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico, earlier that day. The pilot and a mechanic tightened the tailwheel nut. During the landing roll at the Double Eagle II Airport, the tailwheel "vibration occurred and the airplane veered to the right of the runway and ground looped."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7770K
- Reported as
- Cessna 180J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18052726
- Airframe hours
- 1,187
- Engine
- Continental O-470-S, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- George H. Burk
- Registered owner
- George H. Burk
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 10, 1992 · 187 hours before
- Airport
- AEG · Double Eagle II, runway 22, 7,398 × 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
- 63
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,057 total · 674 in this make and model · 985 as pilot in command · 76 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7770K · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.