No fatalities

26 Sep 2008: CESSNA 180 — Scott Coatsworth — Bluff, UT

Bluff, UT, United States

On 26 Sep 2008, a CESSNA 180 operated by Scott Coatsworth was involved in an aviation accident near Bluff, UT. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's encounter with the rough, uneven, and eroded condition of the airstrip. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported that while turning after landing on an unimproved dirt airstrip, the left main landing gear collapsed through an eroded section, causing the nose to rise and the propeller to strike the ground.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that after landing on an unimproved dirt airstrip and coming to a full stop, he began taxiing and started to turn around. During the turn, he encountered a washed out area. The pilot stated that after proceeding about another 30 feet, the left main landing gear collapsed through an eroded section of the dirt airstrip, which was not visible to him.

Sequence of Events

The pilot described that the landing gear fell approximately 2 feet, followed by the airplane going up on its nose and the propeller striking the ground. Subsequently, the airplane fell back on its tailwheel.

Damage

The pilot reported substantial damage to the airplane, including a bent left main landing gear strut and damage to the left gear attachment structure.

Contributing factors

Awareness of condition