Plane Crash List

Cessna 180 N9147C

4 May 1991 · Truckee, California, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 4 May 1991 at about 21:15 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N9147C, operated by Mitch Legarza, was involved in an accident near Truckee, California, 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.

The record

Date
at 21:15
Classification
Accident
Location
Truckee, California, United States
Nearest airport
Truckee (TRK)
Coordinates
37.3003, -120.8701
Aircraft
Cessna 180
Registration
N9147C
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Mitch Legarza
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX91LA192

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 0 0 0 1

Probable cause

THAT THE PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND BRAKES TO ARREST THE RUNWAY EXCURSION. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS ENCOUNTERING UNFAVORABLE WINDS, CROSSWIND CONDITIONS, AND LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING RUNWAY 19 TO PRACTICE TOUCH AND GO TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE PILOT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING A DUST DEVIL WHICH CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO GROUND LOOP. THE REPORTED SURFACE WINDS WERE 150 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS GUSTING TO 16 KNOTS. THE PILOT HAD ACCRUED ONLY 15 HOURS IN THIS TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE OF WHICH 8 HOURS WERE AS PIC. THE PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND BRAKES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 180 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
26 Apr 1991 Cessna 180
N40LT
Vernal, Utah, United States Grant R. Wilson No injuries -
19 May 1991 Cessna 180
N66266
Scottsbluff, Nebraska, United States John K. Sorensen No injuries -
26 May 1991 Cessna 180
N115F
Devils Lake, North Dakota, United States Blosberg, John K. No injuries -
10 May 1991 Cessna 180
N51612
Drewsey, Oregon, United States Walter L. Sitz Minor injuries -
16 Jun 1991 Cessna 180
N4636B
Orr, Minnesota, United States Bernick, Charles No injuries -
13 Jun 1991 Cessna 180
N1721C
Wausa, Nebraska, United States Delmar/Clara Lemons Serious injuries -

All 2,729 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
20 Jul 1991 Cessna C-172P
N54694
Hesperia, California, United States South Bay Aviation No injuries -
24 Jul 1991 Cessna 172N
N5352D
Napa, California, United States Bridgeford Flying SVC. No injuries -
24 Jul 1991 Beechcraft 76
N6045M
Sacramento, California, United States Altair Aviation Corp. No injuries -
27 Jul 1991 Ayres S2R
N3087D
Visalia, California, United States Gilbert Aviation Industries Serious injuries -
1 Aug 1991 Cessna 421C
N98455
Auburn, California, United States Edward Mueller No injuries -
2 Aug 1991 Champion 7GCBC
N1693G
Lake Elsinore, California, United States
no coordinates
Halbeisen, John F Fatal 2

All 170,864 records in United States