- Date
- March 10, 2011, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Pine, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9330CCessna 180
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 8, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- FAA report
- 20110310003169A
- Case key
- 78535
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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
Findings · 1
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 during takeoff to the northeast on the dirt airstrip, the tailwheel-equipped airplane began to drift to the left. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to the left, exited the runway, and struck vegetation. The airplane continued to veer to the left as the right main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the right wing, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage. The airplane came to rest on its right side. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He estimated that the wind at the time of the accident was from the west at 5 knots.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during takeoff to the north east on the dirt airstrip, the tailwheel-equipped airplane began to drift to the left. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to the left, exited the runway, and struck vegetation. The airplane continued to veer to the left as the right main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the right wing, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage. The airplane came to rest on its right side. During a post-accident telephone conversation, the pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot estimated that the wind at the time of the accident was from the west at about 5 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9330C
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31728
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-470 SERIES, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ronald I Apfelbaum
- Registered owner
- Ronald I Apfelbaum
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- NA · Pine, AZ
- Destination
- KDVT · Phoenix, AZ
- Airport
- NA · Red Creek, runway 06, 1,400 × 30 ft, dirt
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
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 16, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,101 total · 639 in this make and model · 2,535 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 3 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
- Observed at
- KPAN, 23 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 731 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 N9330C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.