# NTSB GAA18CA404: Cessna 180, N180GB, Cut Bank, MT, July 9, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 9, 2018, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Cut Bank, MT - Coordinates: 48.608333, -112.376113 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6083&lon=-112.3761&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 June 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97720 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA404 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97720/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97720 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA404 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [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: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/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 According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he circled the airport to check the wind direction and speed and then he initiated a final approach about 70 knots with 3 notches of flaps. He reported that the airplane encountered a wind gust before he initiated the landing flare. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced, and he applied forward yoke pressure. The airplane began to drift right of the runway centerline during the landing roll, and he applied left rudder and left aileron to counter the drift, but when the tailwheel touched down, the airplane veered left. He applied right rudder and right brake, but the right main landing gear collapsed, the left wing lifted, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, and it came to rest in the grass safety area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to right wing spar. The pilot reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was about 7 knots from the west-southwest. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 32. The METAR at the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was calm and the skies were clear. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he circled the airport to check the wind direction and speed, and then he initiated a final approach about 70 knots with 3 notches of flaps. He reported that the airplane encountered a wind gust prior to initiating the landing flare. Upon touchdown of the wheel landing the airplane bounced and he applied forward yoke pressure. The airplane began to drift to the right of the runway center line during the landing roll and he applied left rudder and left aileron to counter the drift, but when the tailwheel touched down, the airplane veered to the left. He applied right rudder and right brake, but the right main landing gear collapsed, the left wing lifted, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and it came to rest in the grass safety area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to right wing spar. The pilot reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from the west-southwest, about 7 knots. The pilot landed on runway 32. The METAR at the accident airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was calm, and the skies were clear. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N180GB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180GB), registered now, S/N 30498, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 (Undesignat) - 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: 30498 - Year built: 1953 - Airframe hours: 4273.9 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2018 - Departed: CYQE, Red Deer - Destination: CTB, Cut Bank, MT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: CTB, Cut Bank Intl, runway 32, 5,300 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,163.1 total, 176.5 in this make and model, 3,141.6 as pilot in command, 118.4 in the last 90 days, 58.7 in the last 30 days, 8.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KCTB ## 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 20180709009439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180709009439A), Jul 9, 2018: Cessna 180, Cut Bank, MT, Substantial damage. The pilot[privacy data omitted] had departed red deer, alberta for Cut Bank, Montana, on a return trip home after an 11 day flying/camping vacation. There were… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97720. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469266&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469267&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.