- Date
- September 21, 2017, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Albuquerque, NM
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N180SACessna 180
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170921011459A
- Case key
- 96055
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 failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll in gusting crosswind conditions.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, with the tailwheel raised, a wind gust from the right lifted the right wing. The pilot overcorrected with right aileron control, and the right wing and horizontal stabilizer contacted the runway surface. The airplane subsequently veered off the runway to the left and came to a stop. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located on the airport reported that, about 13 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 220° at 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots. About 13 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 200° at 8 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The pilot landed on runway 22.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, with the tailwheel raised, a gust of wind from the right lifted the right wing. The pilot over corrected with right aileron control, and the right wing and horizontal stabilizer contacted the runway surface. The airplane subsequently veered off the runway to the left and came to a stop. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located on the airport reported, about 13 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 220° at 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots. About 13 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 200° at 8 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The pilot landed on runway 22.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N180SA
- Reported as
- Cessna 180 (H)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18051903
- Built
- 1968
- Airframe hours
- 5,676.9
- Engine
- Continental 180H, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 26, 2017
- Departed
- AEG · Albuquerque, NM
- Destination
- RCE · Oklahoma City, OK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- AEG · Double Eagle II, runway 22, 7,398 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- 62
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 24, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 648 total · 201 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KAEG
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 15, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.6 MB in all.
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 N180SA · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.