# NTSB SEA03LA071: Cessna 180, N180MK, Pasco, WA, April 27, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 27, 2003, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Pasco, WA
- Coordinates: 46.259445, -119.110557
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2594&lon=-119.1106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 56901
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56901/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA071

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate remedial action when his aircraft began to veer during the landing roll, and his ultimate failure to maintain directional control which resulted in a ground loop.  Factors include the pilot's momentary diversion of his attention during the landing roll.

## 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
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command
- Nose down, landing - roll

## Analysis

The pilot, who was attempting a three-point landing, inadvertently let the main wheels touch the runway first, resulting in the aircraft bouncing back into the air. Just after it touched down a second time (on all three wheels), the tower asked him if he could make a turnoff at the next taxiway. The pilot therefore looked toward the taxiway in order to determine if it was reasonable to make a turnoff there. When he refocused his attention to the runway, the aircraft was veering to the left. He therefore attempted to get it realigned with the runway, but was unable to do so. Almost immediately thereafter, the aircraft ground-looped. During the ground-loop, one wing impacted the runway, and then the aircraft tipped up onto its nose.

## Factual narrative

On April 27, 2003, approximately 1530 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180, N180MK, was substantially damaged when one of its wings contacted the runway during the landing roll at Tri-Cities Airport, Pasco, Washington. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Richland, Washington, about 5 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. There was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, who was attempting a three-point landing on runway 12, he inadvertently let the main wheels touch first, resulting in the aircraft bouncing back into the air. Just after the aircraft touched down a second time (on all three wheels), the tower asked him if he could make a turnoff at the next taxiway. The pilot therefore looked toward the taxiway in order to determine if it was reasonable to make a turnoff there. When he refocused his attention to the runway, the aircraft was veering to the left. He therefore attempted to get it realigned with the runway, but was unable to do so. Almost immediately thereafter, the aircraft ground-looped. During the ground-loop, one wing impacted the runway, and then the aircraft tipped up onto its nose.

According to the pilot, there did not seem to be anything wrong with the aircraft's flight controls or tailwheel steering system.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N180MK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180MK), registered now, S/N 31409 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 180
- Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31409
- Airframe hours: 4642
- Engines: Teledyne Continental O-470KCL 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael J. Wiemers
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2003, 22 hours before
- Departed: RLD, Richland, WA
- Destination: PSC, Pasco, WA
- Airport: PSC, Tri-Cities, runway 12, 7,700 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 1, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 380 total, 11 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KPSC

## Other investigations on N180MK (1)

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.

- [NTSB WPR23LA367](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA367), May 27, 2023: Cessna 180 (N180MK), Minden, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a quartering headwind.

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.

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