# NTSB SEA08LA083: Cessna 180, N1732C, Moab, UT, February 26, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 26, 2008, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Moab, UT - Coordinates: 38.755001, -109.754722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7550&lon=-109.7547&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67577 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67577/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA083 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the tail wheel-equipped airplane during the flare/touchdown phase of a three-point landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 64 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis During one of a series of three-point landings in a tail wheel-equipped airplane, the airplane bounced and then veered to the right during the flare/touchdown phase of the landing sequence. The pilot was unable to keep it from going further to the right, and as it continued to veer to the right of the runway heading, the left main gear leg collapsed, resulting in damage to the fuselage structure. There were no malfunctions or anomalies in the airplane's flight control or tail wheel steering systems. The pilot said that he felt he needed more extensive training in the Cessna 180 and that he should not have attempted a three-point landing in that model airplane until he had completed that training. ## Factual narrative On February 26, 2008, about 1400 mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, N1732C, experienced a main landing gear collapse during a landing at Canyonlands Airport, Moab, Utah. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the airplane, which was owned and operated by a friend of the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 local personal pleasure flight, which originated about one hour prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, during one of his "three-point" landings, the airplane bounced and then veered to the right. He said that he was unable to keep it from going further to the right, and as it continued to go further to the right of the runway heading, the left main gear leg collapsed, resulting in damage to the fuselage structure. According to the pilot, there were no malfunctions or anomalies in the flight control or tail wheel steering systems. He further stated that he felt he needed "more extensive training" in the Cessna 180, and that he should not attempt a "three-point" landing in a Cessna 180 until he had completed that training. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1732C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1732C-2017-07-07), registration cancelled 2017-07-07, S/N 30432, built 1953 (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: 30432 - Airframe hours: 6083 - Engines: Continental O-470J 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas H. Keogh - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2006 - Departed: KCNY, MOab, UT - Destination: KCNY - Airport: KCNY, Canyonlands Airport, runway 03, 7,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,500 total, 25 in this make and model, 1,450 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 20080226010309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080226010309A), Feb 26, 2008: Cessna 180, Moab, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) During practice performing touch and gos after approximately 8 main wheel landings and 4 three point landings the pilot bounced the aircraft (fifth… 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.