Cessna 180 N180HW

Summary

On 3 July 1999 at about 00:04 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N180HW was involved in an accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. 2 people were 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

3 July 1999 at 00:04

Classification

Accident

Location

North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

North Las Vegas (VGT)

Coordinates

36.2102, -115.1190

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N180HW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → San Luis Obispo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX99LA244

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the existing crosswind condition and maintain directional control of the aircraft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the aviation surface weather observations, the reported winds at the time of the accident were from 180 degrees at 15 knots. The METAR at 1556, about 1 hour prior to the accident, reported winds from 180 degrees at 18 knots. No variability in the wind direction was recorded in the variability column of the Department of Commerce Form MF1M-10C. The local controller noted that at the time he cleared the airplane for takeoff he provided the updated wind information of from 180 degrees at 12 knots. The pilot stated that he was directed by tower to use runway 25. He noted that the wind was variable between 120 degrees and 150 degrees. He was cleared for takeoff and noted the windsock was 90 degrees to the runway. He stated that he waited until the wind shifted around favoring runway 25 and as soon as it did, he initiated the takeoff roll. As the tail started to lift off the runway, the airplane was hit with a 'very violent' gust of wind, which lifted the wing and nosed the airplane over.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.