1991-07-19: Cessna 180J — James W. Markham — Newcastle, WY

Casualties unknown • Newcastle, WY, US

Probable cause

PILOT FACTOR IN THAT HE DID NOT MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT FLYING SPEED AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. FACTORS INCLUDE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 180 DEPARTED THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AIRPORT WITH THE INTENTION OF FOLLOWING A CESSNA 185 FOR A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS HEAVILY LOADED, WAS DESCRIBED BY A CFI ON THE GROUND AS WALLOWING THROUGH THE AIR AFTER DEPARTURE. THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO THE WITNESS TO BE IN SLOW-FLIGHT AT A SPEED JUST ABOVE A STALL, WITH NO APPRECIABLE RATE OF CLIMB. THE AIRCRAFT TURNED OUT OF THE PATTERN TOWARD RISING TERRAIN AND ULTIMATELY STALLED AND SPUN INTO THE TERRAIN.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1991-07-19 Cessna 180J accident near Newcastle, WY?

THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 180 DEPARTED THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AIRPORT WITH THE INTENTION OF FOLLOWING A CESSNA 185 FOR A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS HEAVILY LOADED, WAS DESCRIBED BY A CFI ON THE GROUND AS WALLOWING THROUGH THE AIR AFTER DEPARTURE. THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO THE WITNESS TO BE IN…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1991-07-19 involved a Cessna 180J, registration N9962N, operated by James W. Markham, at Newcastle, WY.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

PILOT FACTOR IN THAT HE DID NOT MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT FLYING SPEED AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. FACTORS INCLUDE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X17688. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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