# NTSB LAX02LA086: Cessna 180, N9386C, Jean, NV, February 10, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 10, 2002, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Jean, NV
- Coordinates: 35.916667, -115.833335
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9167&lon=-115.8333&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 54206
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54206/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54206
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA086

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve

## Analysis

The pilot reported he  was conducting a local area flight and intended to make a stop-and-go landing on the dry lakebed at Jean.  After landing and bringing the airplane to a stop, he made a practice short-field takeoff with the first notch of flaps extended.  He believed that the airplane encountered a dust devil during the takeoff roll and a ground loop ensued.

## Factual narrative

On February 10, 2002, at 1200 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 180, N9386C, ground looped during takeoff from a dry lakebed runway near Jean, Nevada.  The private-certificated pilot and one passenger were not injured.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The local area, personal flight was operated by the owner under 14 CFR Part 91, and departed from Henderson airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, at 1130.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot told the Safety Board investigator he was conducting a local area flight and intended to make a stop-and-go landing on the dry lakebed at Jean.  After landing and bringing the airplane to a stop, he made a practice short-field takeoff with the first notch of flaps extended.  He believed that the airplane encountered a dust devil during the takeoff roll and a ground loop ensued.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9386C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9386C), registered now, S/N 31784, built 1955 (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: 31784
- Airframe hours: 4820
- Engines: Continental O-470J 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Peter L. Flangas
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 6, 2001, 46 hours before
- Departed: L15, Las Vegas, NV

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review August 13, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 5,500 total, 100 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter: 30.70 inHg
- Observed at: LAS

## 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 20020210004059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020210004059A), Feb 10, 2002: Cessna 180, Jean, NV, No damage. (-23) Pilot claims he was attempting a short field takeoff on a dry lake bed and possibly encountered a dust devel. The aircraft ground looped. The physical…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54206. 564 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 564 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40386848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.