Cessna 180A N8956Q

Summary

On 14 April 2004 at about 23:25 local time, a Cessna 180A registered N8956Q was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, New Mexico, United States. One person was 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

14 April 2004 at 23:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Las Vegas, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Las Vegas Municipal Airport (LVS)

Coordinates

35.6550, -105.1417

Aircraft

Cessna 180A

Registration

N8956Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Vegas → Colorado Sprgs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN04CA062

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's decision to takeoff in wind conditions that consisted of a quarterly tailwind and a crosswind in excess of the maximum demonstrated crosswind component, and his failure to maintain directional control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the take off roll from runway 14, a gust of wind weathervaned the tail of the airplane into the wind. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over substantially damaging the airplane. The Aviation Routine Weather Report reported winds from 260 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 25 knots. At 1609, a peak wind from 270 degrees at 30 knots was recorded. According to the Cessna Pilot Operating Handbook, the maximum demonstrated crosswind component is 12 knots. The crosswind component was calculated to be a 12 to 31 knot tailwind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.