- Date
- July 5, 2009, 09:24 local (16:24 UTC)
- Place
- La Grande, OR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3198DCessna 180
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20090705011779A
- Case key
- 74233
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he observed an airplane approach and land on runway 30 at the uncontrolled airport. Thereafter, he proceeded to take off on the runway. He noted that the wind was nearly dead calm, according to the windsock. The pilot further stated that upon accelerating to about 35 miles per hour, he encountered a "severe wind shear" that lifted the left wing and wheel off the ground. Despite his efforts to counteract the wind effect, he lost control of his airplane. The pilot then aborted the takeoff, and the wind continued pushing the airplane sideways. The airplane swerved off the runway, encountered soft dirt, and nosed over onto its back.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he observed an airplane approach and land on runway 30 at the uncontrolled airport. Thereafter, he proceeded to take off on the runway. He noted that the wind was nearly dead calm, according to the windsock. The pilot further stated that upon accelerating to about 35 miles per hour, he encountered a "severe wind shear" that lifted the left wing and wheel off the ground. Despite his efforts to counteract the wind effect, he lost control of his airplane. The pilot then aborted the takeoff, and the wind continued pushing the airplane sideways. The airplane swerved off the runway, encountered soft dirt, and nosed over onto its back.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3198D
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31996
- Airframe hours
- 4,646
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-470 SERIES, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 8, 2008
- Departed
- LGD · La Grande, OR
- Destination
- 72S · Rosella, WA
- Airport
- LGD · La Grande, runway 30, 5,600 × 100 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
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,348 total · 802 in this make and model · 2,348 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 18, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 533 KB in all.
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 N3198D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.