On June 18, 2006, a Cessna 180 (registration N2251C) operated by Dennis A. Wyatt was involved in an aviation accident near Great Falls, MT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions. A crosswind was a factor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During takeoff roll, a gust of wind lifted the right wing of a tail-wheel Cessna, causing the aircraft to veer left and exit Runway 34. The right main landing gear subsequently collapsed. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions.
Incident Details
According to a written statement from the pilot, during the takeoff roll, near rotation speed, the tail-wheel equipped Cessna was hit by a gust of wind. The pilot reported that the right wing went up and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot was unable to correct the situation, and the airplane subsequently exited Runway 34.
Landing Gear Collapse
The pilot stated that at some point during this sequence of events, the right main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft sustained damage as a result of the runway excursion and landing gear failure.
Pilot Report
The accident report submitted by the pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft at the time of the accident. The pilot provided no further details regarding wind conditions or the specific timing of the landing gear collapse.