Cessna 180A Runway Excursion at San Felipe Aerodrome

Incident Overview and Flight Details On January 12, 2021, at 14:30 local time, a Cessna 180A aircraft was conducting a touch-and-go maneuver on runway 34 at Aeródromo Víctor Lafón (SCSF) in San Felipe, Valparaíso Region. The aircraft was operated by a commercial pilot with one passenger aboard. The flight originated from Eulogio Sánchez (SCTB) in Santiago for a recreational flight to overfly San Felipe and Los Andes. ## Loss of Control and Impact During the touch-and-go maneuver, the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft. The aircraft deviated to the right, then to the left, and finally executed an approximately 180-degree turn to the right, described as a carousel or spin. This sequence caused the collapse of the left main landing gear leg, resulting in the left wing and propeller striking the runway surface. The aircraft came to a stop at this point. ## Damage and Injuries The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The aircraft sustained significant damage, including deformed propeller blades, a deformed left wing with fractures and cut rivets, a deformed left aileron, a fractured left wingtip fairing and navigation light, and a deformed left landing gear leg. The left wheel assembly showed wear, and the wheel cover was detached. The engine was subject to inspection due to the abrupt stop. ## Aircraft and Maintenance Information The Cessna 180A, serial number 32813, was manufactured in 1957 and had 3,755.9 flight hours. It was powered by a Continental O-470-K engine and equipped with a McCauley 2A34C66-NP propeller. The aircraft had completed its 100-hour and annual inspection on November 27, 2020, at 3,751.0 hours, with no maintenance observations related to the incident. The pilot recorded in the aircraft logbook: 'Aircraft enters carousel. Damaging propeller, left gear, left wing, remains out of service.' ## Environmental and Operational Factors Weather conditions at the time were suitable for visual flight rules, with unlimited visibility, no clouds, and winds from approximately 270 degrees at 5 to 10 knots. The aerodrome features a 1,020 x 30 meter asphalt runway. Fuel samples from both tanks tested as AVGAS 100LL, meeting ASTM D910 standards, with no water or sediment present. The aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within certified limits during the maneuver.