Pilot Loses Directional Control During Landing Roll

Casualties unknown • Mammoth Lakes, CA, US

A pilot failed to maintain directional control during the landing roll on a narrow runway, causing the aircraft to ground loop and exit the paved surface to the left.

What happened

The accident occurred while an aircraft was completing its landing roll on Runway 09. The runway in question measured 7,000 feet in length with a width of only 100 feet. During this phase of flight, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. As a result of this loss of control, the aircraft ground looped and exited the paved environment to the left side of the runway.

The investigation

Following the incident, an examination of the event revealed no evidence of mechanical failure. The pilot explicitly reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions or failures experienced during the operation. This indicates that the loss of control was not due to a pre-existing defect in the aircraft's systems.

Findings

Several factors contributed to the accident. The pilot indicated that surface winds were from 120 degrees at 5 knots, gusting to 10 knots. Additionally, the pilot noted that he had logged only 14.5 hours in the accident make and model of aircraft. This limited experience in this specific type of airplane likely played a role in the inability to manage directional control effectively during the landing roll.

Probable cause

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

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1991-09-22 Cessna 180K accident near Mammoth Lakes, CA?

A pilot failed to maintain directional control during the landing roll on a narrow runway, causing the aircraft to ground loop and exit the paved surface to the left.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1991-09-22 involved a Cessna 180K, registration N63622, operated by James Schulz, at Mammoth Lakes, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

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

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X18129. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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