# NTSB LAX83LA361: Cessna 180K, N2572K, Las Vegas, NV, July 28, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 28, 1983, 09:37 local (16:37 UTC)
- Place: Las Vegas, NV
- Location: 36.2107° N, 115.1944° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NORTH LAS VEGAS (VGT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2107&lon=-115.1944&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23803
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA361
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23803/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA361

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING TOUCHDOWN, HE HEARD A LOUD SQUEAL FROM A TIRE & FELT THE AIRCRAFT PULL TO THE LEFT. HE STATED THAT HE APPLIED RIGHT AILERON & RUDDER TO KEEP THE ACFT GOING STRAIGHT. HOWEVER, AS THE ACFT SLOWED, IT BEGAN TO VEER LEFT AGAIN. HE SAID THE LEFT TIRE THEN LITERALLY EXPLODED. THE LEFT GEAR STRUT COLLAPSED & THE PROP & LEFT WING TIP CONTACTED THE RUNWAY. THE ACFT THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT & WENT OFF THE RWY. HOWEVER, THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIALISTS WORKING LOCAL & GROUND CONTROL SAID THEY OBSERVED THE ACFT LAND HARD WITH THE LEFT WING DOWN, BOUNCE ONTO ITS LEFT GEAR, COME BACK DOWN ON THE RWY & DEPART THE RWY AS THE WHEEL SEPARATED. AN EXAM REVEALED THE LEFT MAIN TIRE WAS TORN OR RIPPED ACROSS THE TREAD, SIDEWALL & BOTH BEADS. THE INNER TUBE SHOWED SIMILAR DAMAGE. NO FLAT SPOTS WERE NOTED. THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS FRACTURED & BROKEN, BUT NO PRE-FRACTURE EVIDENCE OF DEFECTS WAS NOTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2572K (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180K
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18052994
- Airframe hours: 488
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mark A. Losee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 13, 1982, 69 hours before
- Departed: U42, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Destination: OCN, OCEANSIDE
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: VGT, North Las Vegas, runway 7, 5,006 × 90 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 562 total, 92 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAS, 16 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 19830728035859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830728035859A), Jul 28, 1983: Cessna 180K, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. Left landing gear collapsed, wing tip and prop damaged during hard landing.

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.

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