# NTSB LAX96LA188: Cessna 180, N4691B, Lake Havasu Cty, AZ, May 4, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 3, 1996, 17:05 local (May 4, 1996, 00:05 UTC)
- Place: Lake Havasu Cty, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.479236, -114.319778 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4792&lon=-114.3198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 20, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29433
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA188
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29433/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA188

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control.  The wind was a factor.

## 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
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The pilot reported he encountered a crosswind during the landing roll.  The crosswind lifted the right wing high enough to allow the left wing to drag on the ground.  The airplane then ground looped and nosed over, damaging the vertical stabilizer.  The airport manager reported the automatic weather reporting station (AWOS) recorded the winds from 230 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 23 knots at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

On May 3, 1996, at 1705 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, N4691B, ground looped and dragged a wing while landing on runway 14 at the Lake Havasu City, Arizona, airport.  The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated private pilot was not injured.  The airplane was being operated by the pilot/owner as a personal flight.  The flight originated in Santa Ana, California, at 1515 hours.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

The pilot reported he encountered a crosswind during the landing roll.  The crosswind lifted the right wing high enough to allow the left wing to drag on the ground.  The airplane then ground looped and nosed over, damaging the vertical stabilizer.  The pilot said the airport manger stated that the automatic weather reporting station (AWOS) recorded the winds from 230 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 23 knots at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4691B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4691B-1997-01-17), registration cancelled 1997-01-17, S/N 31589 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 180
- Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31589
- Airframe hours: 4614
- Engines: Continental O-470-J 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lackerman, Leslie E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1995, 54 hours before
- Departed: SNA, SANTA ANA, CA
- Destination: HII
- Airport: HII, Lake Havasu City, runway 14, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 348 total, 226 in this make and model, 275 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BLH, 60 nm away

## 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 19960503009369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960503009369A), May 3, 1996: Cessna 180, Lake Havasu Cit, AZ, Substantial damage. Wind gust lifted wing on landing roll. Dragged other wing. Ground looped and nosed over. Quartering head wind.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.