# NTSB WPR09CA063: Cessna 180C, Great Falls, MT, December 21, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 21, 2008, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Great Falls, MT
- Coordinates: 47.482498, -111.370552 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4825&lon=-111.3706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 23, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73129
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA063
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73129/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA063

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## 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: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll, and prior to the tail wheel making contact with the runway surface, she overcorrected with control inputs. The left wing and left horizontal stabilizer subsequently struck the runway surface causing substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot then regained control of the airplane and proceeded to taxi off of the runway.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the Cessna 180C reported that during the landing roll, and prior to the tail wheel making contact with the runway surface, she overcorrected with control inputs. The left wing and left horizontal stabilizer subsequently struck the runway surface causing substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot then regained control of the airplane and proceeded to taxi off the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: C-FIWA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 50726
- Airframe hours: 7059.9
- Engines: Teledyne Continental O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2008
- Departed: CKR9, Outlook
- Destination: GTF, Great Falls, MT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: GTF, Great Falls Int. Airport, runway 21, 10,502 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial, foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 27, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,300 total, 100 in this make and model, 1,100 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point -11 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: GTF

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.