Accident Details
On September 7, 2013, at 1330 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180 airplane, registration N561AT, was substantially damaged during landing at Gallup Municipal Airport (KGUP), Gallup, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The aircraft was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which had departed Portales Municipal Airport (KPRZ) around 1100.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that the landing roll on runway 06 (7,316 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) was uneventful until he began retracting the wing flaps at a ground speed comparable to a "brisk walk." While his attention was diverted to the mechanical flap handle, he inadvertently released left brake pressure. The airplane subsequently ground-looped, causing the left wing to impact the runway, which resulted in substantial damage.
Pilot Statements
The pilot noted that although the airport's weather radio indicated calm wind, there was a slight right crosswind during the landing. However, he stated that the crosswind did not contribute to the loss of directional control. Instead, he attributed the accident to his failure to follow his own standard practice of bringing the airplane to a complete stop before completing any post-landing checklist items, including retracting the wing flaps. The pilot reported no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
Weather and Environmental Conditions
At 1253, the automated surface observing system at KGUP reported variable wind direction at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 8,500 feet above ground level, temperature 28°C, dew point 6°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.25 inches of mercury. The airport elevation is 6,472 feet mean sea level, and the calculated density altitude was 9,145 feet.