- Date
- January 20, 1996, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Buena Vista, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N6502ACessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960120000809A
- Case key
- 19747
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
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control. A factor relating to the accident was: the crosswind.
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
The pilot said that prior to takeoff, he estimated the wind to be from 260 degrees at 8 to 10 knots. He said that during the takeoff roll on runway 33, he was unable to maintain runway heading. The airplane went off the right side of the runway, cleared a drainage ditch, and impacted the opposite embankment. After the accident, the pilot said the wind was from 260 degrees at 20 knots (23 mph) with gusts to 25 knots (29 mph). According to a Cessna Aircraft Company spokesman, the airplane was flight tested in a 30 mph direct crosswind.
Factual narrative
On January 20, 1996, approximately 1100 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, N6502A, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during takeoff at Buena Vista, Colorado. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The following is based on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report. Prior to takeoff from runway 33, the pilot estimated the wind to be from 260 degrees at 8 to 10 knots. Although the initial takeoff roll was normal, the pilot was unable to maintain runway heading. The airplane went off the right side of the runway, cleared a drainage ditch, and impacted the opposite embankment. The pilot said after the accident he estimated the wind to be from 260 degrees at 20 knots (23 mph) with gusts to 25 knots (29 mph).
According to a Cessna Aircraft Company spokesman, the Cessna 180 Owner's Manual does not report a maximum demonstrated crosswind component. However, the airplane was certificated under CAR 3 (Civil Aviation Regulations) on December 23, 1952, and, according to the Technical Inspection Report (TIR), the airplane was flight tested in a 30 mph direct crosswind (0.2 Vso).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6502A
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32399
- Airframe hours
- 3,125
- Engine
- Continental O-470-K, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Thomas D. Moore
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 3, 1995 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- 7V1
- Airport
- 7V1 · Buena Vista Municipal, runway 33, 3,425 × 28 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 345 total · 28 in this make and model · 246 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 20 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- COS, 65 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.