On February 11, 1995, a Cessna 180 (registration N626RP) was involved in an aviation accident near Camas, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the touch-and-go maneuver, which resulted in a bounce and subsequent drift off the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A private pilot performing touch-and-go maneuvers during dual currency training experienced a bounce and runway drift, resulting in a nose-over accident.
What happened
The incident involved a private pilot who was actively engaged in dual currency training with a flight instructor. The pair was conducting touch-and-go operations at the time of the event. During one such maneuver, the aircraft executed a wheel landing rather than a standard three-point or main-gear-only touchdown.
Following the initial contact, the aircraft bounced back into the air. Upon re-contacting the pavement, the plane drifted significantly to the right side of the runway. This lateral deviation caused the right main wheel to leave the hard surface and enter the adjacent grass and soft dirt area. The loss of traction on that side contributed to the instability.
Both the pilot and the flight instructor attempted to recover control of the aircraft. Despite their efforts, they were unable to prevent the nose gear from collapsing under the weight of the forward fuselage. The aircraft ultimately came to rest in a nose-over position.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the touch-and-go maneuver, which resulted in a bounce and subsequent drift off the runway.