# NTSB GAA15CA183: Cessna 180, N3888C, Cahokia, IL, June 30, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 30, 2015, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Cahokia, IL
- Coordinates: 38.571388, -90.159721 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5714&lon=-90.1597&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91556
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91556/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91556
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA183

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll which resulted in a ground loop.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 64 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); 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

The pilot reported that during the landing roll the airplane veered to the right and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left aileron, left horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing roll the airplane veered to the right and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left aileron, left horizontal stabilizer, and left elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3888C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3888C), registered now, S/N 31036, built 1954 (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: 31036
- Year built: 1954
- Airframe hours: 2000
- Engines: CONTINENTAL MOTORS O-470-A 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Flight test, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2013
- Departed: CPS, Cahokia, IL
- Destination: CPS, Cahokia, IL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: CPS, St Louis Downtown, runway 12L, 5,301 × 75 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: KCPS

## 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 20150630010129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150630010129A), Jun 30, 2015: Cessna 180, Cahokia, IL, Substantial damage. On June 30, 2015 at approximately 09:45 CDT, [privacy data omitted] ground looped aircraft registration number N3888C, a Cessna-180, serial number 31036 while…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 4, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91556. 2.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 946 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430274&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430275&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF

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.

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