Cessna 180 N669CB

Summary

On 4 July 2024 at about 13:02 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N669CB was involved in an accident near Fayetteville, Arkansas, 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.

Date

4 July 2024 at 13:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Drake Fld (FYV)

Coordinates

36.0051, -94.1701

Aircraft

Cessna 180

Registration

N669CB

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

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

CEN24LA250

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s loss of directional control due to a muscle spasm.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on takeoff from the airport in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the pilot reported that as he applied right rudder, a muscle spasm shot through his right calf. The spasm resulted in the pilot’s foot pressing hard on the right rudder pedal. Before the pilot could regain directional control, the airplane’s tail swung left, and the airplane steered towards the runway edge. The airplane’s left main landing gear contacted a runway taxiway light collapsing the left main landing gear and the airplane settled on the left wing and ground looped. The pilot had already pulled the throttle back during the muscle spasm and the airplane skidded to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot said that he felt that his lack of proper hydration led to his muscle spasm. There were no reported mechanical malfunctions or failures that contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.