No fatalities

15 Oct 2019: Cessna 180 A — Flannigan, NV

Flannigan, NV, United States

On 15 Oct 2019, a Cessna 180 A was involved in an aviation accident near Flannigan, NV. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a wing strike. 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 landing roll on a soft dirt lakebed, the pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane could not fully depress the left brake pedal. The airplane veered right, struck the ground with the right wing, bounced, and then struck with the left wing.

Incident Overview

A tailwheel-equipped airplane experienced a veering event during the landing roll on a flat, soft dirt surface of a dry lakebed. The pilot reported that upon attempting to apply the left brake, the brake pedal could not achieve full deflection. The pilot characterized the sensation as similar to having an object underneath the pedal. Due to the insufficient braking, the airplane turned to the right, causing the right wing to strike the ground. The airplane then bounced, and during the subsequent motion, the left wing also struck the ground. The airplane eventually came to rest.

Pilot's Account

The pilot provided the account of the sequence to investigators. He stated that no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions were present that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane. After the event, the pilot inspected the area and found no objects that could have obstructed the left brake pedal's movement. The exact cause of the perceived obstruction was not determined.

Terrain and Aircraft Details

The terrain was described as flat, soft dirt on a dry lakebed. The airplane was equipped with a tailwheel configuration. The pilot did not report any issues with the right brake or other controls. The airplane sustained wing strikes during the incident, but no further details about the extent of damage were provided.

Contributing factors

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained