# NTSB WPR14LA205: Cessna 180A, N5281D, Nampa, ID, May 13, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 2014, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Nampa, ID - Coordinates: 43.575553, -116.520553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5756&lon=-116.5206&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 89261 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89261/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89261 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA205 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop. ## 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 180A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072604), [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 180A, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072604), [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 180A, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Cessna 180A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072604), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after an uneventful approach to the runway, he conducted a tail-low, three-point landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. About 30 ft into the landing roll, the airplane suddenly turned sharply right and ground looped. Subsequently, the landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the tailwheel revealed that, although it was heavily worn, it castered freely. No evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure of the tailwheel was found that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 2014, about 1430 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180A, N5281D, sustained substantial damage to the left wing during a ground loop at the Nampa Municipal Airport (MAN), Nampa, Idaho. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from MAN at about 1415. The pilot reported that after an uneventful approach to the runway, he landed the tailwheel equipped airplane in a tail low, three-point landing. About 30 feet into the landing roll the airplane suddenly turned sharply to the right and ground looped. Subsequently, the landing gear collapsed and the left wing impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the tailwheel by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the tailwheel was heavily worn; however, it castered freely, and no anomalies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5281D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5281D), registered now, S/N 50179, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180A - Registry model: [Cessna 180A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180a) (registry code 2072604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 50179 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 6306 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bruce Lape - Registered owner: Bruce Lape - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 2014, 1 hours before - Departed: MAN, Nampa, ID - Destination: MAN, Nampa, ID - Airport: MAN, Nampa Municipal Airport, runway 11, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 28, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,060 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.39 inHg - Observed at: MAN ## 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 20140513007439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140513007439A), May 13, 2014: Cessna 180A, Nampa, ID, Substantial damage. On 13 may 2014, N5281D, a Cessna 180A was being piloted by [privacy data omitted]. N5281D had landed at Nampa, Idaho airport Nampa (S67) at approximately 1430… ## Other investigations on N5281D (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR24LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA122), Apr 4, 2024: Cessna 180A (N5281D), Nordman, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel's improper installation of the left main landing gear wheel assembly, which resulted in a loss of torque and subsequent separation of the wheel and axle assembly from the main… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 16, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89261. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 673 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425144&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425145&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Tailwheel Assembly (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425146&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Tailwheel%20Assembly%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.