On August 3, 2006, a Cessna 180H (registration N7955V) operated by Mack Marketing Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Belgrade, MT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate control during the landing rollout, which resulted in the left wing tip contacting the runway surface. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A student pilot practicing landings experienced a sudden left drift after touchdown on runway 30, resulting in the left wing tip contacting the ground during a turn to the taxiway.
What happened
The incident occurred while a student pilot was conducting practice landing maneuvers. The pilot reported that he was operating on runway 30 when he executed a three-point touchdown. Shortly after the aircraft touched down, it suddenly drifted to the left side as the pilot initiated a turn toward the adjacent taxiway.
In an attempt to correct the drift and maintain control of the aircraft's direction, the pilot applied corrective inputs. However, during this correction phase, the left wing tip of the airplane made contact with the runway surface. The event concluded without further incident reported regarding structural failure or loss of control beyond the initial drift.
The investigation
An examination of the operational details revealed that no preaccident mechanical anomalies were reported by the pilot. The aircraft systems functioned as expected, and the issue was attributed to the handling characteristics during the ground roll and turn-out phase rather than a mechanical failure.
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate control during the landing rollout, which resulted in the left wing tip contacting the runway surface.