Cessna 180 N249MD

Summary

On 9 October 2025 at about 21:30 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N249MD was involved in an accident near Imnaha, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 October 2025 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Imnaha, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Lord Flat USFS Airport (OR9)

Coordinates

45.6679, -116.6188

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N249MD

Category

Airplane

Year built

1965

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR26LA018

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s continued application of brakes during an aborted takeoff in a tailwind on down-sloping terrain, which resulted in a nose-over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was departing from a down-sloping runway surrounded by terrain that permitted departures only in one direction. He estimated there was a 12-knot tailwind. During the takeoff roll, as the airplane neared the end of the runway the pilot decided to abort the takeoff. The pilot applied and maintained braking input as the airplane briefly became airborne. The airplane touched back down, nosed over, and came to rest inverted on the runway. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.