- Date
- April 25, 1990, 22:40 local (Apr 26, 1990, 05:40 UTC)
- Place
- Phoenix, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N72576Cessna 120
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report September 10, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900425011819A
- Case key
- 26784
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot failed to maintain directional control by improperly using the rudders/tall wheel steering.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was practicing touch and go takeoffs and landings on runway 07. The winds were from the north at less that 5 knots. During the landing roll after the first landing, the airplane's tailwheel became erratic and the rudder control diminished as the airplane slowed down. The pilot delayed in applying full power, and when he did, the airplane ground looped.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N72576
- Reported as
- Cessna 120
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 9746
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12F, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- James R. Ohlin
- Airport
- DVT · Deer Valley, runway 7, 8,200 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 507 total · 458 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 350° at 2 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.