SEA01LA069

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 180H · Coeur d'Alene, ID · March 27, 2001

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 27, 2001, 08:30 local (16:30 UTC)
Place
Coeur d'Alene, ID
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N2780XCessna 180H
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 17, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA - Spokane FSDO
FAA report
20010327005629A
Case key
52058

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 aircraft control during the aborted takeoff. A factor was gusty crosswinds.

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.

Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skidTakeoff - aborted
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Nose overTakeoff

Analysis

The pilot reported that he performed an intersection takeoff from runway 23. He indicated that the wind at the time was from 140 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. He stated that during the takeoff roll, he felt the tail raise, and aborted takeoff by "chopping power." The pilot reported that the aircraft's left wingtip then hit and the aircraft went up on its nose, striking its propeller. The pilot reported on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident.

Factual narrative

On March 27, 2001, about 0830 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 180H, N2780X, was substantially damaged in a ground loop and subsequent nose over during an aborted takeoff attempt from runway 23 at Coeur d'Alene Air Terminal, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The private pilot, who owned the aircraft and was its sole occupant at the time, was not injured in the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the 14 CFR 91 local personal flight.

The pilot reported that he performed the takeoff from intersection D. He indicated that the wind at the time was from 140 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots, and that he listened to the airport's Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) prior to takeoff. He stated that he "rolled with [aileron] & rudder correction to the left." He stated that he felt the tail raise, and aborted takeoff by "chopping power." The pilot reported that the aircraft's left wingtip then hit and the aircraft went up on its nose, striking its propeller. The pilot reported on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N2780X
Reported as
Cessna 180H
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18051580
Airframe hours
8,313.8
Engine
Western Skyways O-470-R, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 16, 2001 · 22.8 hours before
Departed
COE · Coeur d'Alene, ID
Airport
COE · Coeur d'Alene Air Terminal, runway 23, 7,400 × 140 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
45
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
April 13, 1999
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,236 total · 257 in this make and model · 1,236 as pilot in command · 23 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
140° at 10 knots, gusting 15
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
39 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N2780X · 2

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