Cessna 180K N63130

Summary

On 21 September 2023 at about 20:00 local time, a Cessna 180K registered N63130 was involved in an accident near Monument Valley, Utah, 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

21 September 2023 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Monument Valley, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Monument Valley AIrport (UT25)

Coordinates

37.0167, -110.2007

Aircraft

Cessna 180K

Registration

N63130

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Page → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR23LA353

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control after encountering a wind gust on the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he made an uneventful flight to the destination airport and configured the tailwheel-equipped airplane for landing. During the approach he noted that there was no unusual gust or crosswind, and he touched down on the main wheels just after the runway’s identification numbers. On the landing roll, the pilot reduced the power to idle, and the tailwheel settled on the runway. The airplane encountered a sudden wind gust, raising the right wing. Despite the pilot’s attempts to maintain directional control, the airplane ground-looped to the right and departed the runway surface. The airplane continued into a ditch and the left gear collapsed, resulting in the left wing contacting the ground. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.