# NTSB WPR20CA139: Cessna 180, N89SJ, Hanksville, UT, May 6, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 5, 2020, 18:30 local (May 6, 2020, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Hanksville, UT - Coordinates: 37.349998, -110.230003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3500&lon=-110.2300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: SLC FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101245 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101245/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101245 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA139 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and 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 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. - [Takeoff: 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 takeoff roll in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he felt a gust of wind hit the airplane. When the tail came up, he was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane veered to the right, departed the runway onto rocks, and ground looped. The right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89SJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N89SJ), registered now, S/N 18051923, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 180 (H) - 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: 18051923 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 6650.6 - Engines: Continental O-470- SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2019 - Departed: CNY, Moab, UT - Destination: UT03, Hanksville, UT - Airport: UT03, Hite, runway W, 2,200 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 13, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,577 total, 1,290 in this make and model, 2,577 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: CNY, 68 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 20200506004959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200506004959A), May 6, 2020: Cessna 180H, Hite, UT, Substantial damage. On takeoff, the aircraft departed the runway to the right into terrain causing substantial damage. ## Other investigations on N89SJ (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 SEA06CA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA151), Jul 30, 2006: Cessna 180H (N89SJ), Hailey, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during taxi, which resulted in a nose over. A factor was the wind gust condition. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101245. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 673 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9952005&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120-1%20Pilot_Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident_Incident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 449 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9850994&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA139%20Photos-Rel.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.