Cessna 180J N52175

Summary

On 1 August 2025 at about 01:43 local time, a Cessna 180J registered N52175 was involved in an accident near Kamiah, Idaho, 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

1 August 2025 at 01:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Kamiah, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Flying Elk (PVT)

Coordinates

46.2980, -116.0610

Aircraft

Cessna 180J

Registration

N52175

Category

Airplane

Year built

1974

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

WPR25LA235

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s loss of airplane control following an encounter with a microburst during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that at the time of rotation, the airplane encountered a microburst or strong crosswind that rolled the airplane aggressively to the right, causing the wingtip to drag on the runway. The airplane exited the runway and struck a ditch, where it cartwheeled and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the tail section. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was taking off on runway 17. The pilot stated that at the time of takeoff, the wind was from 140° to 150° at 5 to 10 miles per hour, with a thunderstorm about 20 miles east. At the time the airplane encountered the crosswind from a microburst the pilot estimated the wind was from 090° at 40 to 45 miles per hour. The airport was not equipped with weather reporting facilities; however, a weather reporting station was located about 40 miles southeast reported about 5 minutes after the accident, wind from 210° at 14 knots, gusting to 29 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.