# NTSB LAX88LA115: Cessna 180A, N26AW, Prescott, AZ, February 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 24, 1988, 16:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place: Prescott, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.620803, -112.419685 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6208&lon=-112.4197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25954
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25954/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA115

## 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
  - landing gear,steering system - loss,partial (cause)
  - directional control - restricted (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
- Gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - separation

## Analysis

DURING THE DUAL PRIMARY CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE STUDENT WAS MAKING THE APPROACH AND LANDING AT PRESCOTT. THE CFI SAID THAT THE APPROACH AND TOUCHDOWN WERE NORMAL, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT IN A GRADUAL TURN AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED. THE STUDENT'S CONTROL INPUTS TO CORRECT THE RIGHT TURN WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED IN THE SOFT SOIL OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE CFI STATED THAT HE 'PROBABLY WAITED TOO LONG TO TAKE THE AIRCRAFT' FROM THE STUDENT, WHOM HE DESCRIBED AS 'AN EXCELLENT STUDENT.' SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY A REPAIR STATION REVEALED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL STEERING PAWL WAS BROKEN AND WOULD ONLY STEER THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE TO THE LEFT AT ALL. EXAMINATION OF THE CFI'S LOGBOOK REVEALED THAT HE ONLY HAD ABOUT 150 HOURS AS A CFI. ALL OF THE STUDENT'S FLIGHT TIME WAS ACCRUED IN CESSNA 120 & 180 MODEL AIRCRAFT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26AW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26AW), registered now, S/N 32544 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180A
- 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: 32544
- Airframe hours: 5630
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-K 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Alex P. Whitmore
- Registered owner: Martha H. Whitmore
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 1987, 58 hours before
- Departed: E98, LOS LUNAS, NM
- Destination: PRC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: PRC, Love Field, runway 3, 7,608 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 8,245 total, 52 in this make and model, 4,415 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PRC

## 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 19880224003419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880224003419A), Feb 24, 1988: Cessna 180, Prescott, AZ, Substantial damage. Aircraft veered off runway into soft dirt and ground looped. Tail steering paw would only steer to the right.

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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