# NTSB WPR24LA246: Cessna 180, N1000Y, Grady, NM, July 14, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 14, 2024, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Grady, NM · Dirt Road - Coordinates: 34.851167, -103.30133 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8512&lon=-103.3013&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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194701 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA246 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194701/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194701 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA246 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff with a quartering tailwind. ## 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) - [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: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, while departing from a dirt road, the airplane “may have encountered a quartering tailwind” and veered to the left. While attempting to correct back to the road, the airplane exited to the left side of the road, ground looped, and struck a fence post which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1000Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1000Y), registered now, S/N 30999, built 1954 (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: 30999 - Year built: 1954 - Airframe hours: 3263 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470-J 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 22, 2024, 54 hours before - Destination: GUC, Gunnison, CO - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 27, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 1,074.2 total, 44.8 in this make and model, 1,013.4 as pilot in command, 70.1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KTCC, 25 nm away - METAR: METAR KTCC 141553Z AUTO 21010KT 10SM CLR 31/13 A3018 RMK AO2 SLP149 T03060128= ## 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 20240714008809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240714008809A), Jul 14, 2024: Cessna 180, Grady, NM, Substantial damage. On July 14, 2024, a Cessna 180 serial number 30999 bearing the registration number [privacy data omitted] was substantially damaged due to an accident while… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194701. 4.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17453476&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ntsb%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of phone conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17452791&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 543 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17453274&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA246%20photo%20array-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.