No fatalities

Runway Departure During Landing

Bellingham, WA, United States

On June 7, 2009, a CESSNA 180J operated by Stephen W. Groves was involved in an aviation accident near Bellingham, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported that an airplane bounced slightly and veered right off runway 16 during landing. The airport weather system recorded southerly winds at 6 knots, and the pilot stated there were no mechanical failures.

Incident Description and Weather Conditions During the landing on runway 16, the pilot reported that the airplane experienced a slight bounce before veering to the right and leaving the runway. The airport's weather observation system recorded southerly winds at 6 knots around the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The source does not provide the aircraft type, registration, date, operator, location, or cause of the accident. The pilot reported that the airplane experienced a slight bounce and then veered to the right off the runway during landing on runway 16. The airport's weather observation system recorded southerly winds at 6 knots around the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The source does not provide the aircraft type, registration, date, operator, location, or cause of the accident.

Contributing factors

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 7 Jun 2009 CESSNA 180J accident near Bellingham, WA?

A pilot reported that an airplane bounced slightly and veered right off runway 16 during landing. The airport weather system recorded southerly winds at 6 knots, and the pilot stated there were no mechanical failures.

Were there any fatalities in the 7 Jun 2009 CESSNA 180J accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 7 Jun 2009 involved a CESSNA 180J, operated by Stephen W. Groves, at Bellingham, WA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.