# NTSB LAX02LA193: Cessna 180, N2228C, Columbia, CA, June 9, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 2002, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Columbia, CA - Coordinates: 38.110633, -120.380477 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1106&lon=-120.3805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54904 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54904/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54904 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA193 ## Probable cause The pilot encountered a crosswind gust during the landing roll, resulting in a ground loop and nose over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The plane encountered a wind disturbance resulting in a ground loop and the airplane coming to rest inverted. While on the landing roll the gust caught the left wing and tail, lifting it off the ground. The tail continued to lift until the prop struck the ground, and flipped the airplane over. The pilot stated the AWOS reported the winds to be 290 at 8 knots gusting to 15 knots. The airport has two runways, and are on a magnetic heading of 170-350 and 110-290. Runway 11-29 is 2,600 feet long and 100 feet wide, and is turf. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 2002, about 1415 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180, N2228C, ground looped and overturned during landing at Columbia Airport (O22), Columbia, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Palo Alto Airport (PAO), Palo Alto, California, at 1330, en route to Columbia Airport. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that he witnessed two other aircraft landing on runway 35, so he also landed on runway 35. The AWOS at Columbia Airport reported the winds to be 290 degrees at 8 knots gusting to 15. He made a three-point landing and was coming to a stop when a sudden burst of wind lifted the left wing and the tail off of the ground, swinging the tail to the right. The tail continued to lift until the propeller struck the ground and the airplane flipped over. He said that the plane was tracking straight on the centerline at 25 miles per hour when the wind disturbance was encountered. The airport has two runways, and are on a magnetic heading of 170-350 and 110-290. Runway 11-29 is 2,600 feet long and 100 feet wide, and is turf. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2228C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2228C-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N 30528, built 1953 (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: 30528 - Airframe hours: 1504.4 - Engines: Continental O-470A 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tierney W. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 2001, 15.4 hours before - Departed: PAO, Palo Alto, CA - Destination: KO22, Columbia, CA - Airport: O22, Columbia, runway 35, 4,670 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 2, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 373 total, 91 in this make and model, 373 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 20 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: MOD, 35 nm away ## 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 20020609010579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020609010579A), Jun 9, 2002: Cessna 180, Columbia, CA, No damage. (-23) On June 9, 2002 at 1415 PDT, while landing at Columbia airport, Columbia, CA (O22) the private pilot landed (Cessna 180, N2228C) on runway 35 with a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54904. 524 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443778&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Second Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443779&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Second%20Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records, METARS (item 3, .PDF, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40183733&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records,%20METARS-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.