Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary MIA02LA088

Canton, MS, USA

Aircraft #1

N180CW

Cessna 180

Analysis

According to the pilot the airplane touched down on the first 20 percent of a 3,000-foot runway, rolled about 1,000 feet, at 20 knots of ground speed, and began to drift to the right. The pilot attempted to correct the situation by applying full left rudder and braking, however he could not correct the right turn. The airplane turned about 120 degrees before the right main landing gear dropped into a ditch, and the left wing made contact with a gravel road. The pilot estimated that at the time of the accident "the cross wind component was "8 knots."

Factual Information

On April 21, 2002, about 1420 central daylight time, a Cessna 180, N180CW, registered to and operated by an individual, struck a ditch during the ground roll after landing at a private airstrip near Canton, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. No flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private-rated pilot, and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight had departed from Lakeview, Arkansas, about 1200. According to the pilot the duration of the flight was 2.3 hours, and "uneventful until landing roll out. He said the airplane touched down on the first 20 percent of a 3,000-foot runway. After rolling about 1,000 feet at "20 knots of ground speed," the airplane began to drift to the right. He attempted to correct the situation by applying full left rudder and braking; however, he was "unable to correct the steadily increasing right turn." The airplane turned about 120 degrees before the right main landing gear "dropped" into a ditch, and the left wing made contact with a gravel road. The pilot estimated that at the time of the accident "the cross wind component was "8 knots."

Probable Cause and Findings

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control after landing which resulted in the airplane departing the runway, and the subsequent impact with a ditch.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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