# NTSB LAX03CA249: Cessna 180, N2935A, St. Johns, AZ, July 31, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 31, 2003, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: St. Johns, AZ - Coordinates: 34.518333, -109.378608 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5183&lon=-109.3786&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57609 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03CA249 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57609/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03CA249 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind condition that resulted in a loss of directional control and ground loop. The crosswind was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot was performing a wheel landing on runway 14 and the airplane ground looped, damaging the left landing gear and left wing tip. The landing was normal until the tail wheel touched down. The airplane veered to the right and came to a stop 180 degrees from the runway heading about 3 feet off the runway edge. Throughout much of the morning, the wind's direction was variable and less than 4 knots. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) at SJN indicated that about 6 minutes prior to the accident, winds were from a magnetic heading of 290 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2003, about 1100 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, N2935A, ground looped during landing at St. Johns Industrial Air Park (SJN), St. Johns, Arizona. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Raton Municipal Airport/Crews Field (RTN), Raton, New Mexico, about 0900, en route to St. Johns. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The pilot was performing a wheel landing on runway 14. The landing was normal until the tail wheel touched down. The airplane veered to the right and came to a stop 180 degrees from the runway heading about 3 feet off the runway edge. The left wing tip and left main landing gear sustained damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. Throughout much of the morning, the wind's direction was variable and less than 4 knots. A routine aviation weather report (METAR) generated by an Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS) at SJN indicated that about 6 minutes prior to the accident, winds were from a magnetic bearing of 290 degrees at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2935A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2935A-2011-07-11), registration cancelled 2011-07-11, S/N 30135, 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: 30135 - Airframe hours: 5024 - Engines: Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: William Decanio - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 2003, 30 hours before - Departed: RTN, Raton, NM - Destination: SJN, St. Johns, AZ - Airport: SJN, St. Johns Industrial Airpark, runway 14, 5,322 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 31, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 13,000 total, 165 in this make and model, 5,800 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: SJN ## 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 20030731024679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030731024679A), Jul 31, 2003: Cessna 180, St Johns, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot made a wheel landing with light and variable winds. When tail touched down, the aircraft veered off the right side of the runway. ## Other investigations on N2935A (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW75DPJ21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75DPJ21), Apr 25, 1975: Cessna 180 (N2935A), Ringling, OK, substantial damage 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.