- Date
- May 27, 1997, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Olney, TX
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9408CCessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970527012019A
- Case key
- 20230
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 crosswind, which resulted in a loss of dirctional control, a ground loop, and a collapsed main gear. The crosswind was a related factor.
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
According to the pilot, there was a right quartering crosswind present during the landing. After an initial touchdown on the right main wheel, the airplane became airborne again, and its nose turned into the wind. The tailwheel equipped airplane then touched down 'sideways' and 'ground-looped to the right.' The left main gear collapsed, and the left wing tip contacted the ground.
Factual narrative
On May 27, 1997, at 1600 central daylight time, a Cessna 180 airplane, N9408C, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing at the Olney Municipal Airport, Olney, Texas. The private pilot and his two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross country flight that originated in Sulphur Springs, Texas, at 1400.
During a telephone interview conducted by the investigator-in-charge and on the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated that there was a right quartering crosswind present during the landing on runway 31. He further stated that after an initial touchdown on the right main wheel, the airplane became airborne again, and its nose turned into the wind. The tailwheel equipped airplane then touched down "sideways" and "ground-looped to the right." The left main wheel separated, and the left wing tip contacted the ground.
According to the FAA inspector, the fuselage was twisted, and the left wing, horizontal stabilizer and elevator sustained structural damage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9408C
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31806
- Engine
- Continental O-470-J, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Will D. Crockett
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 5, 1997
- Departed
- SLR · Sulphur Springs, TX
- Destination
- ONY
- Airport
- ONY · Olney Municipal, runway 31, 5,093 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 115 total · 110 in this make and model · 96 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.