# NTSB WPR14CA241: Cessna 180H, N73BT, Hesperia, CA, June 7, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 7, 2014, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Hesperia, CA
- Coordinates: 34.376945, -117.315834 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3769&lon=-117.3158&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 September 2, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89417
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA241
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89417/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89417
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA241

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180H, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072618), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [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)

## 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

The pilot reported that during the landing roll in the tail wheel equipped airplane, while about 35 miles per hour (MPH), it began to turn to the right. He was able to bring the airplane back to runway centerline with opposite rudder control; however, the airplane again quickly turned right to which he was unable to regain control by applying rudder and brakes. The airplane subsequently tipped on to the left main landing gear which resulted in the left wing and horizontal stabilizer to strike the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing roll in the tail wheel equipped airplane, while about 35 miles per hour (MPH), it began to turn to the right. He was able to bring the airplane back to runway centerline with opposite rudder control; however, the airplane again quickly turned right to which he was unable to regain control by applying rudder and brakes. The airplane subsequently tipped on to the left main landing gear which resulted in the left wing and horizontal stabilizer to strike the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N73BT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73BT), registered now, S/N 18051606, built 1965 (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-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18051606
- Year built: 1965
- Airframe hours: 3117
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2014, 1 hours before
- Departed: KAPV, APPLE VALLEY, CA
- Destination: L26, Hesperia, CA
- Airport: L26, Hesperia, runway 21, 3,910 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 7, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 32,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 29,000 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observed at: KVCV, 13 nm away

## 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 20140607008579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140607008579A), Jun 7, 2014: Cessna 180H, Hesperia, CA, Substantial damage. Operator encountered strong sudden gust of wind (crosswinds) on landing rollout causing momentary loss of directional control. In an attempt to correct for the…

## Docket (12 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89417. 4.3 MB in all.

- Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415149&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Statement (item 2, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415150&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1- Left Side Empennage (item 3, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415152&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-%20Left%20Side%20Empennage%20-Master.PDF
- Photo 2- Left Horizontal Stabilizer (item 4, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415153&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-%20Left%20Horizontal%20Stabilizer%20-Master.PDF
- Photo 3- Close up Left Tip Horizontal Stabilizer (item 5, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415154&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203-%20Close%20up%20Left%20Tip%20Horizontal%20Stabilizer-Master.PDF
- Photo 4- Upper View Left Horizontal Stabilizer (item 6, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415155&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204-%20Upper%20View%20Left%20Horizontal%20Stabilizer-Master.PDF
- Photo 5- Left Elevator Damage (item 7, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415156&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205-%20Left%20Elevator%20Damage-Master.PDF
- Photo 6- Aft View Left Elevator Damage (item 8, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415157&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206-%20Aft%20View%20Left%20Elevator%20Damage%20-Master.PDF
- Photo 7- Forward View Left Wing Tip Damage (item 9, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415158&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207-%20Forward%20View%20Left%20Wing%20Tip%20Damage-Master.PDF
- Photo 8- Close up Aft View Left Wing Tip Damage (item 10, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415160&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208-%20Close%20up%20Aft%20View%20Left%20Wing%20Tip%20Damage-Master.PDF
- Photo 9 Top View Left Wing Tip Damage (item 11, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415161&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%209%20Top%20View%20Left%20Wing%20Tip%20Damage-Master.PDF
- Photo 10-Aft View Left Wing Tip Damage (item 12, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415162&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2010-Aft%20View%20Left%20Wing%20Tip%20Damage-Master.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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