- Date
- June 9, 1994, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Sedona, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N180DKCessna 180J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 5, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940609014579A
- Case key
- 28765
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
a loss of directional control due to a locked brake from a leaking hydraulic system.
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 airplane veered to the left during takeoff and the right main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the brakes by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed the left brake had locked up. The brake torque plate was found misaligned, and jamming the brake shoe against the wheel. The mechanic also indicated in his report that the brake cylinders had been seeping hydraulic fluid and this fluid, mixed with brake dust and dirt, had covered the brake caliper assembly.
Factual narrative
On June 9, 1994, at 1200 hours mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180J, N180DK, collapsed the right main landing gear after the pilot experienced a directional control problem during a takeoff at the Sedona Airport, Sedona, Arizona. The airplane was being operated by the pilot/owner as a personal flight to Taos, New Mexico. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the certificated private pilot and his passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), examination of the brakes by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed the left brake had locked up. The brake torque plate was found misaligned, and jamming the brake shoe against the wheel. The mechanic also indicated in his report that the brake cylinders had been seeping hydraulic fluid and this fluid, mixed with brake dust and dirt, had covered the brake caliper assembly. This dirty fluid had entered the caliper guide bushings and had effectively reduced the guide pin to guide bushing clearance to near zero.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N180DK
- Reported as
- Cessna 180J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18052456
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 265 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David Klages
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 11, 1993 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- SEZ
- Destination
- SKX · Taos, NM
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- SEZ · Sedona, runway 21, 5,131 × 75 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
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,800 total · 700 in this make and model · 25 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FLG
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.