Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Irving, Texas
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Tyler, Texas
Accident Number: GAA20CA069
Date & Time: November 8, 2019, 12:00 Local
Registration: N9925N
Aircraft: Cessna 180
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during takeoff, he turned the yoke to the right into the perceived quartering headwind. The tail lifted, and the right wing dipped, and he corrected by trying to lift off, but the right wheel remained on the ground. The airplane ground looped, exited the runway to the left, and nosed over. He added further that, while taking off, he misread the windsock and applied the wrong wind correction. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's improper wind correction while taking off with a tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose-over.
Findings
Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Environmental issues Tailwind - Effect on operation
Factual Information
History of Flight
Takeoff Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Takeoff-rejected takeoff Attempted remediation/recovery
Takeoff-rejected takeoff Runway excursion
Takeoff-rejected takeoff Nose over/nose down
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 52,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: March 28, 2019
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: October 15, 2019
Flight Time: (Estimated) 107 hours (Total, all aircraft), 31 hours (Total, this make and model), 27.2 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 50 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 21 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N9925N
Model/Series: 180 J
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1975
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 18052580
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: November 7, 2019 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3190 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2795 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-470-50
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 230 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KTYR,551 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 17:53 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 7°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 11000 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 10°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.37 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 9°C / -1°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Tyler, TX (TYR)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Tyler, TX (TYR)
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 12:00 Local
Type of Airspace: Class D
Airport Information
Airport: Tyler Pounds Rgnl TYR
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 544 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 13
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5200 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 32.35361,-95.403053(est)
I personally met this pilot and saw this aircraft shortly before This accident.
ReplyDeleteThe pilot struck me as a good man new to aviation and was a 60 hour student pilot in a tricycle gear trainer. I hope he keeps flying after this.
The student was excited to fly and professional in demeanor And trusted his instructor.
The instructor believed in the merits of his student immediately purchasing a mint condition High Performance Conventional gear Cessna180 and helped him in that process.
I witnessed that instructor in Boyne City, Michigan checking out the pilot in the 180.
The aircraft is a challenge to fly for experienced pilots and certainly for newly certified airmen in my opinion.