# NTSB LAX03LA140: Cessna 180J, N7821K, Angwin, CA, April 22, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 22, 2003, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Angwin, CA - Coordinates: 38.578334, -122.435279 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5783&lon=-122.4353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56869 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56869/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA140 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. ## 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 - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The airplane veered off the runway to the right and came to rest nose down in a ditch. The pilot had received an airport advisory from another airplane that the airport was experiencing a crosswind from the west and recommended runway 16. During the landing roll, with the tail still airborne, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right despite full rudder control input and braking by the pilot to the left. ## Factual narrative On April 22, 2003, at 1430 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180J, N7821K, veered off the runway and collided with a ditch while landing at Angwin Airport, Angwin, California. The airplane was owned and operated by the private pilot under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Angwin at 1130. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he had received an airport advisory from another airplane that the airport was experiencing winds from the west and runway 16 was recommended. He stated that during the landing roll, with the tail of the airplane still airborne, a gust of wind forced the airplane to the right despite full rudder control input and braking to the left. The airplane veered off the runway to the right and came to rest nose down in a ditch. The closest aviation weather reporting station is at Sonoma County Airport, 18 miles to the southwest. The winds recorded at Sonoma Country Airport for 1353 and 1453 were calm. The pilot reported that the winds at Angwin, at the time of the accident, were 260 degrees at 5 to 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7821K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7821K), registered now, S/N 18052755, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180J - Registry model: [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j) (registry code 2072622) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18052755 - Airframe hours: 3240.8 - Engines: Continental O-470S 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2003, 14.7 hours before - Departed: 2O3, St Helena, CA - Destination: 2O3, St Helena, CA - Airport: 2O3, Angwin-Parrett Field, runway 16, 3,217 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 7, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 717 total, 547 in this make and model, 710 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KSTS ## 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 20030422009419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030422009419A), Apr 22, 2003: Cessna 180J, Angwin, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was landing on rwy 16 in gusty and crosswind conditions. He executed a wheel landing and lost control after lowering the tail to the rwy. He… ## Other investigations on N7821K (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 LAX02LA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA127), Apr 5, 2002: Cessna 180J (N7821K), Saline Valley, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control during landing rollout after encountering a water erosion rut in the runway's uneven surface. 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.