- Date
- November 8, 2019, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Tyler, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9925NCessna 180
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20191108023179A
- Case key
- 100554
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 improper wind correction while taking off with a tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose-over.
Findings · 3
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 takeoff, he turned the yoke to the right into the perceived quartering headwind. The tail lifted, and the right wing dipped, and he corrected by trying to lift off, but the right wheel remained on the ground. The airplane ground looped, exited the runway to the left, and nosed over. He added further that, while taking off, he misread the windsock and applied the wrong wind correction. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff, he turned the yoke to the right into the perceived quartering headwind. The tail lifted, the right wing dipped, he corrected by trying to lift off, but the right wheel remained on the ground. The airplane ground looped, exited the runway to the left, and nosed over. He further added that, while taking off, he misread the windsock and applied the wrong wind correction. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 010° at 9 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 13.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9925N
- Reported as
- Cessna 180 (J)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18052580
- Built
- 1975
- Airframe hours
- 2,795
- Engine
- Continental O-470-50, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 7, 2019
- Departed
- TYR · Tyler, TX
- Destination
- TYR · Tyler, TX
- Airport
- TYR · Tyler Pounds Rgnl, runway 13, 5,200 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display
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
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 15, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 107 total · 31 in this make and model · 27.2 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.37 inHg
- Observed at
- KTYR
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 20, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 926 KB 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 N9925N · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.