NYC96LA128

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 180 · Fulton, NY · June 15, 1996

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 15, 1996, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place
Fulton, NY
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N7783ACessna 180
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 23, 1999
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
39197

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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions.

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
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Ground loop/swerve - not correctedPilot in command

Analysis

The pilot said that after landing on runway 33 and during rollout, the wind shifted and lifted the left wing. The right wing struck the ground and then the propeller. He said he was unable to control the airplane because this was a taildragger and it did not have a wheel lock. The pilot stated the accident could have been prevented if during the rollout he had turned the airplane into the wind.

Factual narrative

On June 15, 1996, at 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 180, N7783A, was substantially damaged during landing roll at the Oswego County Airport (N00), Fulton, New York. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight that originated at N00 approximately 1330. No flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot reported:

"After landing on runway 33 and during rollout the wind shifted and lifted the left wing. I was unable to control [the airplane] because this was a taildragger and did not have a wheel lock. Right wing hit first, plane went up on its nose and prop hit, came down on the left wing."

According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, the pilot reported that a ground loop occurred when he lost control of the aircraft during the landing roll.

The pilot reported that the airplane had no mechanical deficiencies. In the Recommendation section of the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (How Could This Accident Been Prevented), the pilot replied:

"After landing, wind shifted 180 [degrees]. During rollout, pilot should have turned into the wind to avoid lift and ground loop."

The pilot held a private pilot certificate and reported 200 hours of flight experience, of which 100 hours were in make and model.

Aircraft

Registration
N7783A
Reported as
Cessna 180
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1547D
Engine
Continental O-470-K, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Robert Mcgruder
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Departed
N00
Destination
N00
Airport
N00 · Oswego County Airport, runway 33, 5,197 × 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
55
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
200 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
360° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg

Other investigations on N7783A · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.