# NTSB WPR23LA353: Cessna 180K, N63130, Monument Valley, UT, September 21, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 21, 2023, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Monument Valley, UT
- Coordinates: 37.016667, -110.20068 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0167&lon=-110.2007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193142
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA353
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193142/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193142
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA353

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control after encountering a wind gust on the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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 180K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072624), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 180K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072624), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he made an uneventful flight to the destination airport and configured the tailwheel-equipped airplane for landing. During the approach he noted that there was no unusual gust or crosswind, and he touched down on the main wheels just after the runway’s identification numbers. On the landing roll, the pilot reduced the power to idle, and the tailwheel settled on the runway. The airplane encountered a sudden wind gust, raising the right wing. Despite the pilot’s attempts to maintain directional control, the airplane ground-looped to the right and departed the runway surface. The airplane continued into a ditch and the left gear collapsed, resulting in the left wing contacting the ground. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63130](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N63130), registered now, S/N 18052831 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180K
- Registry model: [Cessna 180K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180k) (registry code 2072624) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18052831
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 6247
- Engines: Continental O-470-U 230 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 2023, 123 hours before
- Departed: PGA, Page, AZ
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: UT25, Monument Valley AIrport, runway 16, 3,800 × 45 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,543 total, 688 in this make and model, 4,468 as pilot in command, 297 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 9 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observed at: KPGA, 60 nm away
- METAR: KPGA 212053Z AUTO 21009G19KT 170V250 10SM CLR 29/M04 A2985 RMK AO2 PK WND 21027/2022 SLP043 T02891039 58028

## 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 20230921015019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230921015019A), Sep 21, 2023: Cessna 180K, Monument Valley, UT, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting to land at UT25. Upon touchdown of tailwheel a gust of wind caught the right wing, this caused the left wing to strike the ground which…

## Other investigations on N63130 (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 DEN91LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91LA036), Jan 18, 1991: Cessna 180K (N63130), Patterson, LA, minor damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO IDENTIFY AN UNSAFE OR HAZARDOUS CONDITION. FACTORS WERE: ROUGH WATER AND HIGH WINDS.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193142. 7.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 7.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16172842&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2001%20-6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16173263&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z-%20Attachment%2002%20-Photos-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.

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