- Date
- May 15, 1998, 15:54 local (20:54 UTC)
- Place
- Abilene, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N4775BCessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 19, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980515009679A
- Case key
- 20615
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
The pilot's improper compensation for the crosswind conditions resulting in a ground loop. A factor was the crosswind condition.
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 the landing roll on runway 35L, the aircraft ground looped. The pilot reported that during the approach, at about 300 feet, he noticed 'left crosswind gusts.' After normal main wheel contact (wheel landing) the 'aircraft started scooting right while trying to weathervane to the left.' The reported wind condition at the time of the accident was from 290 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots.
Factual narrative
On May 15, 1998, at 1554 central daylight time, a Cessna 180 tail wheel equipped airplane, N4775B, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during the landing roll at the Abilene Regional Airport, Abilene, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Lubbock, Texas, about 1 hour 09 minutes prior to the accident.
The pilot reported that during the approach for landing to Runway 35L, at about 300 feet, he noticed "left crosswind gusts. After normal main wheel contact (wheel landing) [the] aircraft started scooting right while trying to weathervane to the left." Subsequently, the aircraft "ground looped."
On the enclosed form 6120.1/2, the pilot reported that he had accumulated a total of 471 flight hours, of which 52 were in the accident airplane.
Examination of the aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed that the firewall was buckled, and the right main landing gear was damaged.
At 1553, the reported wind condition at the Abilene Regional Airport was from 290 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 17 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4775B
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31673
- Airframe hours
- 2,114
- Engine
- Continental O-470-J, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Stephen W. Hollabaugh
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 1997 · 34 hours before
- Departed
- F82 · Lubbock, TX
- Destination
- ABI
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- ABI · Abilene Regional, runway 35L, 7,202 × 150 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
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 471 total · 52 in this make and model · 6 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ABI
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.