No fatalities

10 Mar 2011: CESSNA 180 — RONALD I APFELBAUM — Pine, AZ

Pine, AZ, United States

On 10 Mar 2011, a CESSNA 180 operated by RONALD I APFELBAUM was involved in an aviation accident near Pine, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain. 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

During a northeast takeoff on a dirt airstrip, a tailwheel airplane drifted left, exited the runway, struck vegetation, and sustained substantial damage after the right main landing gear collapsed.

Accident Sequence

The pilot reported that during a takeoff to the northeast on a dirt airstrip, the tailwheel-equipped airplane began to drift to the left. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to veer left, exited the runway, and struck vegetation. As the airplane continued to deviate left, the right main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the right wing, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage. The airplane came to rest on its right side.

Pilot Report

In a post-accident telephone conversation, the pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot estimated that the wind at the time of the accident was from the west at about 5 knots.

Additional Details

No other information was provided regarding the specific make, model, or registration of the airplane, the date or location of the accident, or the number of occupants involved. The pilot did not report any injuries.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintained