Casualties unknown

1999-08-01: Cessna 180A (N6180) — Gustavus, AK

Gustavus, AK, US

On August 1, 1999, a Cessna 180A (registration N6180) was involved in an aviation accident near Gustavus, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadvertent ground loop/swerve. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N6180
Aircraft registered N6180. Photo: André Gerwing / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A pilot reported that after an uneventful touchdown on runway 28, the airplane's nose veered right. Despite applying full left rudder, the airplane ground looped to the right, collapsing the left main landing gear and causing substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage.

Accident Overview

A certificated commercial pilot was operating a landing on runway 28. The pilot stated that the touchdown and initial landing roll were uneventful. However, during the rollout, the airplane's nose veered slightly to the right. In response, the pilot applied full left rudder input. Instead of correcting the deviation, the airplane suddenly ground looped to the right.

Sequence of Events

As the ground loop developed, the left main landing gear collapsed under the lateral loads. Subsequently, the left wing struck the runway surface. The impact resulted in substantial damage to both the left wing and the fuselage. The wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported as from 190 degrees at 5 knots.

Aircraft Damage

The left wing and fuselage sustained substantial structural damage. The left main landing gear was also collapsed. The extent of damage to other components is not specified in the available information.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X19396. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.