# NTSB WPR11CA455: Cessna 180H, N180HR, Reno, NV, September 16, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 16, 2011, 14:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Reno, NV
- Coordinates: 39.498889, -119.768058 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4989&lon=-119.7681&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: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 13, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81820
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA455
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81820/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81820
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA455

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: [Cessna 180H, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, during landing, he encountered a strong gust of wind. The airplane veered and subsequently ground looped, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and elevator. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during landing on runway 16R, in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he encountered a strong gust of wind. The airplane veered and subsequently ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and elevator. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N180HR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180HR), registered now, S/N 18051633, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180H
- Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470R](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470r) (registry code 17071, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18051633
- Airframe hours: 6095
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 550 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Roberts Leon Thomas
- Registered owner: Roberts Leon Thomas
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 2010, 85 hours before
- Departed: KBDN, Bend, OR
- Destination: KRNO, Reno, NV
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: KRNO, Reno, runway 16R, 11,200 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total, 212 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 19 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Observed at: KRNO

## 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 20110916024079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110916024079A), Sep 16, 2011: Cessna 180H, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. On September 16, 2011, at 1515 PST, a Cessna 180, N180HR, registered to [privacy data omitted], ground looped on the runway at Reno, international airport,…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81820. 145 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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