No fatalities

18 Feb 2012: CESSNA 180 — STANDHART GARY — South Fork, CO

South Fork, CO, United States

On 18 Feb 2012, a CESSNA 180 operated by STANDHART GARY was involved in an aviation accident near South Fork, CO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of directional control while landing on a patchy snow-covered runway. 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

After landing on a patchy, snow-covered runway, a pilot lost directional control when the airplane contacted snow, causing a nose-over and substantial damage to the vertical fin and one wing.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported losing directional control during the landing roll on a runway that was patchy with snow. The airplane contacted a patch of snow, leading to a loss of control. The aircraft subsequently nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position.

Damage Assessment

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's vertical fin and one wing. No other damage details were provided in the initial report.

Pilot Report

The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The aircraft appeared to be functioning normally prior to the loss of control.

Runway Conditions

The runway surface was described as patchy and snow-covered, which likely contributed to the loss of directional control upon contact with a snow patch.

Outcome

The airplane came to rest inverted, and the pilot did not report any injuries. The incident highlights the challenges of operating on snow-covered runways.

Contributing factors

Causes

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on operation