- Date
- October 21, 2013, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Butte, MT
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N156JMCessna 180
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 1, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Case key
- 88296
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 while landing with a crosswind.
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 during the stabilized approach in the tailwheel equipped airplane he was inputting the appropriate crosswind control inputs for the left crosswind condition. Upon touchdown, a gust of wind caused the airplane to ground loop to the left. Subsequently, the right wing struck the ground which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the stabilized approach in the tailwheel equipped airplane he was inputting the appropriate crosswind control inputs for the left crosswind condition. Upon touchdown, a gust of wind caused the airplane to ground loop to the left. Subsequently, the right wing struck the ground which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N156JM
- Reported as
- Cessna 180 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32360
- Built
- 1956
- Airframe hours
- 7,800
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-470 SERIES, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 13, 2013
- Departed
- MSO · Missoula, MT
- Destination
- BTM · Butte, MT
- Airport
- BTM · Bert Mooney, runway 33, 9,001 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- 50
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 2, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 96.5 total · 34.2 in this make and model · 47.9 as pilot in command · 34.2 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.21 inHg
- Observed at
- BTM
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 27, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 397 KB in all.
Other investigations on N156JM · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.