# NTSB LAX08CA079: Cessna 180H, N180LH, Moab, UT, March 18, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 18, 2008, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Moab, UT - Coordinates: 38.755001, -109.754722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7550&lon=-109.7547&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67698 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67698/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA079 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control. A contributing factor was the unexpected dust devil. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 64 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While waiting in line to takeoff, the pilot observed a Super Cub and a Cessna 172 depart, and on the basis of how those airplanes behaved, he thought that the winds were calm. The pilot encountered a dust devil and crosswind during the takeoff roll. The airplane became airborne, settled to the ground off the runway surface, and struck a runway distance marker. Examination of the airplane revealed a dent in the horizontal stabilizer. ## Factual narrative On March 18, 2008, about 1630 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180, N180LH, collided with a runway sign during takeoff at Moab, Utah. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. The personal cross-country flight was departing en route to Mineral Canyon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that he taxied to runway 21, and watched a Super Cub and a Cessna 172 depart. He thought that the winds were calm. During the takeoff, he encountered a crosswind, and the airplane drifted off the side of the runway. The pilot said that the left wing started to fly, so he applied aileron into the wind and right rudder. The airplane went airborne, and then settled off the runway surface parallel to the runway. He heard the airplane hit something as it lifted off. The airplane struck a runway distance marker. On climb out, he noticed that the elevator trim would not work. He returned to the field and landed. Examination of the airplane revealed a dent in the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that the airport manager said that the gust was a dust devil. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N180LH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180LH), registered now, S/N 18031708 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180H - 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: 31708 - Airframe hours: 3830 - Engines: Teledyne Continental O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry Hubbert - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2007 - Departed: CNY, Moab, UT - Destination: Mineral Canyon, UT - Airport: CNY, Canyonlands Field, runway 21, 7,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review October 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 3,632 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 47 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: CNY ## 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 20080318012069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080318012069A), Mar 18, 2008: Cessna 180, Moab, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was taking off at Moab airport. The aircraft went off to the right side of the runway striking the first 1000' runway distance marker sign. The… 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.