Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control. The wind was a factor.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On May 3, 1996, at 1705 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 180, N4691B, ground looped and dragged a wing while landing on runway 14 at the Lake Havasu City, Arizona, airport. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated private pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated by the pilot/owner as a personal flight. The flight originated in Santa Ana, California, at 1515 hours. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.
The pilot reported he encountered a crosswind during the landing roll. The crosswind lifted the right wing high enough to allow the left wing to drag on the ground. The airplane then ground looped and nosed over, damaging the vertical stabilizer. The pilot said the airport manger stated that the automatic weather reporting station (AWOS) recorded the winds from 230 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 23 knots at the time of the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX96LA188