LAX94LA265

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 180 · Elko, NV · June 25, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 25, 1994, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
Place
Elko, NV
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N63419Cessna 180
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 12, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940625016879A
Case key
28783

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain proper alignment during landing rollout. Factors in the accident were the presence of soft and uneven terrain adjacent to the landing site.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Proper alignment - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - softFactor
Terrain condition - rough/unevenFactor

Analysis

The pilot planned to examine cattle which were located in the area and to meet with associates. The pilot reported that when he examined the road on which he planned to land from the air it appeared to be satisfactory. The pilot landed on the road, drifted left, entered the soft dirt shoulder, and collided with a rock.

Factual narrative

On June 25, 1994, at 1000 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180, N63419, operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged during landing rollout on a dirt road about 75 miles north of Elko, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the business flight. Neither the private pilot nor passenger was injured. The flight originated from Elko, Nevada, at 0930. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board that he planned to examine cattle which were located in the area and to meet with associates. The pilot stated that when he examined the road from aloft it appeared to be satisfactory for landing. The pilot landed on the road, drifted left, and then entered the soft dirt shoulder.

In the pilot's completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1, he wrote that he landed too close to a bar pit and hit a rock which broke the left landing gear. The airplane then veered off the road and, as the airplane slowed, its wings and horizontal stabilizer were bent.

Aircraft

Registration
N63419
Reported as
Cessna 180
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18052844
Airframe hours
796
Engine
Continental O-470-U, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Operator
Samuel Kent Howard
Registered owner
Samuel Kent Howard
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 3, 1994 · 25 hours before
Airport
NONE · County Dirt Road

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
71
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
3,000 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 14 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
50 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.