- Date
- April 22, 2001, 14:26 local (21:26 UTC)
- Place
- Glendale, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N66033Cessna 180K
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 24, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20010422007939A
- Case key
- 52112
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 loss of directional control during the landing roll resulting in a ground loop/swerve and collision with a runway marker sign.
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 landing the airplane collided with a runway marker sign. The pilot stated that he lost directional control due to a sudden gust of wind. The closest weather reporting station was at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport about 17 statute miles east of Glendale airport, and reported the wind to be 120 at 4 knots with no gusts.
Factual narrative
On April 22, 2001, at 1426 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180K, N66033, collided with a runway marker while landing in Glendale, Arizona. The airplane sustained substantial damage; however, the certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The personal flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Corona, California, about 1200 Pacific daylight time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported that he was making a wheel landing and was in the process of lowering the tail when the airplane drifted off the right side of runway 19. The right horizontal stabilizer struck a runway marker. The pilot added power and aborted the landing. On the second approach he landed without incident.
A post accident inspection of the airplane revealed that the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator were crushed and partially separated from the empennage.
The closest weather station was Phoenix Sky Harbor airport about 17 statute miles to the east of Glendale airport, and reported the winds to be 120 degrees at 4 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N66033
- Reported as
- Cessna 180K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18052906
- Airframe hours
- 1,240
- Engine
- Continental O-470L, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Bruce A. Nelson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 8, 2001 · 84 hours before
- Departed
- AJO · Corona, CA
- Destination
- GEU · Glendale, AZ
- Airport
- GEU · Glendale Municipal, runway 19, 5,350 × 75 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
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 16, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 12,500 total · 150 in this make and model · 11,000 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.13 inHg
- Observed at
- PHX
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 N66033 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.