N3196D

On June 19, 1998, at 1840 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180, N3196D, sustained substantial damage during landing roll on a dirt road approximately 30 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The airline transport certificated pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The flight was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight which originated at Valencia, New Mexico.

According to the pilot, he was landing on a dirt road to buy fuel at a service station and lost control of the aircraft during the landing roll. The right wing, right horizontal stabilizer, main landing gear, propeller, and cowl were deformed when, according to the pilot, he allowed the aircraft to ground loop. The pilot related to the FAA inspector, who went to the scene, that he often stopped at that service station for fuel, but on this occasion he said he failed to correct for the crosswind which was 15 to 20 knots.