# NTSB LAX04CA209: Cessna 180, N6430X, Kingman, AZ, May 14, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 14, 2004, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Kingman, AZ - Coordinates: 35.583332, -114.050003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5833&lon=-114.0500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59226 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA209 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59226/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA209 ## Probable cause the pilot under instruction's excessive and improper use of the rudder control during the landing roll and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision, which resulted in an inadvertent 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 - rudder - improper use of, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis During a practice landing to a dry lakebed, the pilot under instruction overcompensated during a realignment maneuver, resulting in a loss of control of the tail wheel airplane and a ground loop. The pilot was receiving flight instruction for a tail wheel endorsement. According to the certified flight instructor's (CFI's) written statement, he and the pilot had practiced numerous takeoffs and landings at the departure airport before they headed to a dry lakebed for additional takeoff and landings. During the final landing, as the tail was lowering from the wheel landing position, the "student applied right rudder" to clear a stick that was on the ground. Though, according to the CFI, the aircraft's original rollout path would have cleared the stick, the CFI felt comfortable with the maneuver since it provided extra clearance. The pilot then corrected with the left rudder, but "overcompensated." The CFI announced that he had the controls, but the pilot did not remove his hands from the control yoke or his feet from the rudder pedals. As the airplane slowed, it underwent two left-to-right oscillations. On the second right oscillation, the right wing lifted and the airplane went up onto its left main tire. The CFI said that he applied left aileron and left rudder; however, the airplane continued to the right and he was unable to regain control of the airplane before it ground looped and nosed over. The CFI applied left brake, the left wing impacted the ground, and the airplane nosed over onto its back. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 2004, at 1130 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, N6430X, ground looped and nosed over during the landing roll on a dry lakebed near Kingman, Arizona. Sheble Aviation, Inc., the registered owner, was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) sustained no injuries and the pilot under instruction (PUI) sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed for the instructional flight. The local flight departed the Kingman Airport at 0930. The PUI was receiving flight instruction for a tail wheel endorsement. According to the CFI's written statement, he and the PUI had practiced numerous takeoffs and landings at the departure airport before they headed to a dry lakebed for additional takeoff and landings. During the final landing, as the tail was lowering from the wheel landing position, the "student applied right rudder" to clear a stick that was on the ground. Though, according to the CFI, the aircraft's original rollout path would have cleared the stick, the CFI felt comfortable with the maneuver since it provided extra clearance. The PUI then corrected with the left rudder, but "overcompensated." The CFI announced that he had the controls, but the PUI did not remove his hands from the control yoke or his feet from the rudder pedals. As the airplane slowed, it underwent two left-to-right oscillations. On the second right oscillation, the right wing lifted and the airplane went up onto its left main tire. The CFI said that he applied left aileron and left rudder; however, the airplane continued to the right. The CFI applied left brake, the left wing impacted the ground, and the airplane nosed over onto its back. The CFI was not sure if the PUI had his feet on the brakes during the final portion of the landing roll. The pilots and operator reported no problems with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6430X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6430X), registered now, S/N 18050930 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180d) (registry code 2072610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18050930 - Airframe hours: 4839 - Engines: Continental O-470L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sheble Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 22, 2004, 22 hours before - Departed: IGM, Kingman, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 27, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 6,500 total, 450 in this make and model, 5,800 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 260 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: IGM ## 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 20040514012959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040514012959A), May 14, 2004: Cessna 180D, Red Lake, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 14, 2004, at approximately 1130 local time, at Red Lake, Arizona (a dry lake bed), this pilot was giving dual instruction when he lost control of… ## Other investigations on N6430X (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 CHI68D0339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68D0339), Aug 13, 1967: Cessna 180D (N6430X), Sandusky, OH, 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.