# NTSB WPR24LA209: Cessna 180, N4722B, Chamberlain Guard Station, ID, June 22, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 22, 2024, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Chamberlain Guard Station, ID
- Coordinates: 45.379078, -115.19678
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3791&lon=-115.1968&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: 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): 194541
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA209
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194541/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194541
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA209

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff which resulted in a collision with a rodent hole and subsequent nose over.

## 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 180, 64 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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 180, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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 180, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 54 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During the takeoff roll from a grass airstrip, the tailwheel-equipped airplane encountered a wind gust, which weathervaned the airplane to the left and off runway centerline. The left main landing gear wheel impacted a rodent hole, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facility Directory for the airport indicated the runway was 200 ft wide and in fair condition. However, postaccident examination of the runway surface revealed that though the center 20 to 25 ft of the runway was in good repair, however, outside of the center of the runway had “abundant grass growth” with some larger rodent holes.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4722B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4722B), registered now, S/N 31620, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 180
- Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31620
- Year built: 1955
- Airframe hours: 6560
- Engines: Continental O-470-J 225 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 2023
- Destination: 3U2, Yellow Pine, ID
- Airport: U79, Chamberlain USFS Airport, runway 07, 4,100 × 200 ft, gravel
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 598.1 total, 515.1 as pilot in command, 10.1 in the last 90 days, 9.5 in the last 30 days, 3.7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 170° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KMYL, 48 nm away
- METAR: KMYL 221751Z AUTO 17005KT 10SM CLR 23/06 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP132 T02280061 10228 20067 58004

## 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 20240622007489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240622007489A), Jun 22, 2024: Cessna 180, Chamberlain, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot took off opposite direction from landing based on wind sock indications. Aircraft experienced unanticipated wind gust on takeoff. Aircraft departed…

## Other investigations on N4722B (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 WPR26LA351](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA351), Sep 19, 2026: Cessna 180 (N4722B), Medford, OR, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194541. 8.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17363365&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17572436&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - airport inspector (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 6 photos, 979 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17573070&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MoR-%20Flo%20Ghighina%20-Final-Rel.pdf
- FAA airport facility directory U79 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 610 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17572583&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=U79%20FAA%20AFD-Rel.pdf
- Idaho transportation department airport facility directory U79 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 648 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17573168&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Idaho%20DA%20AFD-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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