- Date
- December 6, 1991, 16:30 local (Dec 7, 1991, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Bakersfield, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2549KCessna 180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 27515
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's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the landing roll due to inadequate compensation for the existing wind conditions. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of total experience.
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 said he touched down in a wheel landing about one third of the way down the runway. He stated that a gust of wind caught the aircraft and caused it to begin tracking to the right side of the runway. The pilot applied left rudder to correct the drift and get the aircraft back on the runway center line. The pilot said the tail wheel'caught and with the help of gusting cross winds, the aircraft ground looped onto the right wing and aileron.'
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2549K
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18052982
- Airframe hours
- 2,423
- Engine
- Continental O-470-U, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Charles M. Rudnick
- Registered owner
- R. W. Little Trust
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 1991 · 54 hours before
- Airport
- L45 · Bakersfield Airpark, runway 31, 3,150 × 50 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 24
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 172 total · 25 in this make and model · 95 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 2 knots, gusting 6
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 75 °F