Cessna 180 N89SJ

Summary

On 6 May 2020 at about 00:30 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N89SJ was involved in an accident near Hanksville, Utah, 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

6 May 2020 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hanksville, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Hite (UT03)

Coordinates

37.3500, -110.2300

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N89SJ

Category

Airplane

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moab → Hanksville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20CA139

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and ground-loop. 

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he felt a gust of wind hit the airplane. When the tail came up, he was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane veered to the right, departed the runway onto rocks, and ground looped.  The right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged.  The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.