Cessna 180 N180MK

Summary

On 27 April 2003 at about 22:30 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N180MK was involved in an accident near Pasco, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 April 2003 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pasco, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Tri-Cities (PSC)

Coordinates

46.2594, -119.1106

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N180MK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Richland → Pasco

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA03LA071

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate remedial action when his aircraft began to veer during the landing roll, and his ultimate failure to maintain directional control which resulted in a ground loop. Factors include the pilot's momentary diversion of his attention during the landing roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot, who was attempting a three-point landing, inadvertently let the main wheels touch the runway first, resulting in the aircraft bouncing back into the air. Just after it touched down a second time (on all three wheels), the tower asked him if he could make a turnoff at the next taxiway. The pilot therefore looked toward the taxiway in order to determine if it was reasonable to make a turnoff there. When he refocused his attention to the runway, the aircraft was veering to the left. He therefore attempted to get it realigned with the runway, but was unable to do so. Almost immediately thereafter, the aircraft ground-looped. During the ground-loop, one wing impacted the runway, and then the aircraft tipped up onto its nose.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.