SEA06LA076

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 180 · Klamath Falls, OR · April 14, 2006

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
April 14, 2006, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
Place
Klamath Falls, OR
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N40LTCessna 180
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 3, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Portland FSDO
FAA report
20060414004179A
Case key
63516

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 directional control of the tailwheel-equipped aircraft during the landing roll. Factors include 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.

On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - runway
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Weather condition - gustsFactor

Analysis

After her initial departure, the pilot flew about 10 minutes south to another airport, where she executed about 10 touch-and-go landings. When the winds started to become variable and gusty at this location, the pilot returned to her initial departure point where she was cleared for a full-stop landing on runway 32. Although the touchdown was uneventful, according to the pilot, during the landing roll a crosswind gust lifted the left wing, and the aircraft began to veer from the runway heading. During her attempt to realign the aircraft with the runway, it turned sharply to the left, and the right wing and right elevator came in contact with the runway surface. The pilot said there did not appear to be any problems with the aircraft's flight controls or tailwheel steering system. After she taxied to parking, the pilot talked to an individual who had landed just before her, and that individual stated that he had also encountered gusty crosswinds. The two pilots estimated the gusts were as high as 15 knots.

Factual narrative

On April 14, 2006, approximately 1200 Pacific daylight time, the wing of a Cessna 180, N40LT, contacted the runway surface during the landing roll at Klamath Falls International Airport, Klamath Falls, Oregon. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft's wing structure sustained substantial damage. The pilot, who is the owner/operator of the aircraft, initiated the 14 CFR Part 91 personal proficiency flight at the same airport approximately 90 minutes prior to the accident. There was no report of an ELT activation, and no flight plan had been filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot, after her initial departure, she flew about 10 minutes south to Butte Valley Airport, where she executed about 10 touch-and-go landings. When the winds started to become variable and gusty at Butte Valley, the pilot returned to Klamath Falls, where she was cleared for a full-stop landing on runway 32. Although the touchdown was uneventful, according to the pilot, during the landing roll a crosswind gust lifted the left wing, and the aircraft began to veer from the runway heading. During her attempt to realign the aircraft with the runway, the aircraft turned sharply to the left, and the right wing and right elevator came in contact with the runway surface. The pilot said there did not appear to be any problems with the aircraft's flight controls or tailwheel steering system. After she taxied to parking, the pilot talked to an individual who had landed just before her, and that individual stated that he had also encountered gusty crosswinds. The two pilots estimated the gusts were as high as 15 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N40LT
Reported as
Cessna 180
Category
Airplane
Serial number
30527
Airframe hours
5,141
Engine
Continental O-470-J, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Claren Nilsson
Registered owner
Winston & Claren Nilsson
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 1, 2005
Departed
KLMT · Klamath Falls, OR
Destination
KLMT · Klamath Falls, OR
Airport
KLMT · Klamath Falls International, runway 32, 10,301 × 150 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
41
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
February 1, 2005
Seat
Left
Flight hours
208 total · 13 in this make and model · 156 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
290° at 6 knots, gusting 15
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
25,000 ft broken
Temperature
55 °F, dew point 36 °F
Altimeter
29.69 inHg

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 N40LT · 1

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