# NTSB SEA06CA156: Cessna 180, N3239D, Elk City, ID, August 2, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 2, 2006, 07:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Elk City, ID - Coordinates: 46.120834, -114.927223 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1208&lon=-114.9272&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 64288 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64288/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA156 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground loop 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the pilot, he landed to the north on the 4,100-foot-long turf airstrip and had slowed the airplane to about 25 mph when it "went to the right of centerline." He attempted to regain directional control by using left rudder and brake, but was unable to prevent the airplane from ground looping. The pilot commented that he "should have been faster on the rudder pedals to not let it get away." ## Factual narrative On August 2, 2006, about 0720 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180, N3239D, sustained substantial damage when it ground looped during landing at Moose Creek USFS Airport, Elk City, Idaho. The private pilot and the two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from a private airstrip in Sandpoint, Idaho about 0600. According to the pilot, he landed to the north on the 4,100-foot-long turf airstrip and had slowed the airplane to about 25 mph when it "went to the right of centerline." He attempted to regain directional control by using left rudder and brake, but was unable to prevent the airplane from ground looping. The pilot commented that he "should have been faster on the rudder pedals to not let it get away." An FAA inspector examined the airplane and reported that the left wing sustained structural damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3239D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3239D), registered now, S/N 32037, built 1955 (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: 32037 - Engines: Continental O-470 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Sandpoint, ID - Destination: 1U1, Elk City, ID - Airport: 1U1, Moose Creek USFS, runway 01 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 387 total, 6 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20060802015049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060802015049A), Aug 2, 2006: Cessna 180, Moose Creek Ran, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Airman stated that during the landing rollout on an unapproved runway, the aircraft began to turn to the right. Airman stated that he attempted to arrest… ## Other investigations on N3239D (2) 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 SEA83LA184](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83LA184), Aug 28, 1983: Cessna 180 (N3239D), Colburn, ID, substantial damage - [NTSB LAX80DVD17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DVD17), Mar 30, 1980: Cessna 180 (N3239D), Livermore, CA, substantial damage 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.