- Date
- June 2, 2012, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place
- Wenatchee, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3184DCessna 180
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20120602009549A
- Case key
- 83849
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 during takeoff in a crosswind condition.
Findings · 3
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 the takeoff ground roll with a left crosswind condition, the airplane began to swerve immediately after the tail came off the ground and the left wing rose. The pilot attempted to correct with aileron, rudder, and control stick inputs, but the airplane turned into the wind and the right wing and propeller contacted the ground. The airplane subsequently came to rest balanced on its right main landing gear, the propeller, and the right wing tip. The airplane's right wing and right aileron were substantially damaged as a result of impact damage with the runway surface. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the takeoff ground roll with a left crosswind condition, the airplane began to swerve immediately after the tail came off the ground and the left wing rose. The pilot attempted to correct with aileron, rudder and control stick inputs, however the airplane turned into the wind and the right wing and propeller contacted the surface. The airplane subsequently came to rest balanced on its right main landing gear, the propeller and the right wing tip. The airplane's right wing and right aileron were substantially damaged as a result of impact damage with the runway surface. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3184D
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31982
- Airframe hours
- 5,684
- Engine
- Continental Motors O-470, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Janet L Liberty
- Registered owner
- Janet L Liberty
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 26, 2012 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- EAT · Wenatchee, WA
- Destination
- S10 · Chelan, WA
- Airport
- EAT · Pangborn Memorial Airport, runway 30, 5,700 × 150 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
- 69
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 18, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,896 total · 1,959 in this make and model · 2,896 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.79 inHg
- Observed at
- EAT
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.0 MB 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.