# NTSB WPR25LA119: Cessna 180, N180ZR, San Carlos, CA, March 26, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 26, 2025, 11:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: San Carlos, CA - Coordinates: 37.512594, -122.25032 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5126&lon=-122.2503&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: 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): 199920 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199920/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199920 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA119 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll with crosswind conditions. ## 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: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Cessna 180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing roll in a tailwheel equipped airplane, it began to veer to the right. The pilot attempted to correct; however, the airplane continued to veer to the right and left wing and left horizontal stabilizer struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 12 with wind from 170° at 13 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N180ZR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N180ZR), registered now, S/N 31662, 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: 31662 - Year built: 1955 - Airframe hours: 4125 - Engines: Continental O-470R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 27, 2024, 14 hours before - Departed: KPAO, Palo Alto, CA - Destination: KSQL, San Carlos, CA - Airport: SQL, San Carlos, runway 12/30, 2,621 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review April 17, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 596 total, 447 in this make and model, 448 as pilot in command, 10.2 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 61; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,242 total, 1,297 in this make and model, 7,029 as pilot in command, 181 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KSQL - METAR: KSQL 261850Z 17013KT 10SM SCT022 17/10 A3000 ## 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 20250326002499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250326002499A), Mar 26, 2025: Cessna 180, San Carlos, CA, Substantial damage. In a training flight for the commercial certificate, a Cessna 180 performed a three-point landing on runway 12 at San Carlos Airport. Rolling out after… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199920. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18592063&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18592178&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=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. --- 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.