# NTSB SEA03LA181: Cessna 180, N1027X, Caldwell, ID, August 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 29, 2003, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Caldwell, ID - Coordinates: 43.694721, -116.638053 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6947&lon=-116.6381&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57813 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57813/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA181 ## Probable cause The instructor's inadequate supervision, and the student's failure to maintain directional control. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that as the 12 hour student pilot was rolling out on the runway in the tailwheel equipped aircraft, the aircraft's nose deviated to the right. The student applied corrective rudder and brake while the instructor assured full up elevator had been applied. However, the actions were not sufficient to prevent the aircraft from ground looping 180 degrees during which the left wingtip and horizontal stabilizer struck the ground. The winds were variable to northerly at 3-5 knots and the instructor reported that there had been no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft during the event. ## Factual narrative On August 29, 2003, approximately 0830 mountain daylight time, a tailwheel equipped Cessna 180, N1027X, registered to an individual, operated by an airline transport rated pilot/flight instructor and being flown by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage during a loss of control on landing at the Caldwell Industrial airport, Caldwell, Idaho. Neither occupant was injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was instructional, was operated under 14 CFR91, and originated from Caldwell approximately 0730 on the morning of the accident. The flight instructor reported that at the conclusion of the fourth landing, as the student was rolling out on runway 30 and decelerating through approximately 25-30 miles per hour, "...a lurch or turn brought the nose of the aircraft right and the tail to the left...." The instructor was lightly riding the controls during the rollout and both pilots initiated a correction for the turn with the student applying "...a corrective action of left rudder and brake..." while the instructor simultaneously assured "...full up elevator...." The instructor indicated that the control inputs were insufficient to overcome the turning momentum of the aircraft, and the aircraft came to rest oriented in the opposite direction with the left wheel off the runway edge. During the reversal the wingtip and horizontal stabilizer struck the ground. The instructor reported the winds as variable at 3-5 knots and the surface observation at the Caldwell airport at 0835 reported the surface winds as 5 knots from the north. The instructor reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft during the event and the student had about 12 hours of total flight experience. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1027X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1027X), registered now, S/N 31205, built 1954 (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-A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-a) (registry code 17370, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31205 - Airframe hours: 3125 - Engines: Continental O-470-A 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Barr, Robert E. - Registered owner: Gilbride, Leo - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 2002, 30 hours before - Departed: EUL, Caldwell, ID - Airport: EUL, Caldwell Industrial, runway 30, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 60; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 8, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 20,822 total, 22 in this make and model, 19,147 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 12 total, 12 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: EUL ## 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 20030829020709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030829020709A), Aug 29, 2003: Cessna 180, Caldwell, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot in command was conducting flight instruction with a student pilot. During a full stop landing attempt, the aircraft ground-looped to the right… 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.