# NTSB LAX87LA007: Cessna 180, N1750C, Lucerne Valley, CA, October 4, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 4, 1986, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Lucerne Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 34.520687, -116.879905 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5207&lon=-116.8799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25447
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25447/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA007

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WIND HAD BEEN LIGHT AND VARIABLE WITH INTERMITTENT GUSTS AND ON THE TAKE-OFF ROLL AS THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY SWUNG 30 DEGREES TO THE LEFT AND HE WAS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE WITH RIGHT RUDDER. THE RIGHT WING TIP THEN DUG INTO THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER INVERTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1750C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1750C-1989-06-01), registration cancelled 1989-06-01, S/N 30450 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180
- Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30450
- Airframe hours: 3359
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470R 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard B. Fritz
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 1985, 76 hours before
- Departed: L85
- Destination: SNA, SANTA ANA, CA
- Airport: L85, Soggy Dry Lake, runway 14, 10,000 ×  ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,965 total, 1,125 in this make and model, 1,839 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19861004047869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861004047869A), Oct 4, 1986: Cessna 180, Lucerne Valley, CA, Destroyed. The aircraft veered off the runway due to gusting variable winds.

## Other investigations on N1750C (2)

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 LAX76DUJ24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX76DUJ24), Aug 24, 1975: Cessna 180 (N1750C), Page, AZ, substantial damage
- [NTSB UNK70X0103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK70X0103), Nov 26, 1969: Cessna 180 (N1750C), Mexicali, Mexico, 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.