N91380

On July 6, 1998, at 1530 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180H, N91380, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with the ground just prior to touch down and nosed over at the Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured.

In a written statement that was recited by the pilot to a relative, the pilot reported that he received the automated weather report for the airport conditions, and then taxied to the run-up area to complete a run-up check in preparation for takeoff. The pilot indicated that he was aware of a crosswind from the left prior to departure. During the departure, the pilot reported "received a gust of wind." The pilot has no memory of the sequence of events after this point.

A witness who was seated near the airport office and watching aircraft takeoff and land observed the accident aircraft on short final to runway 34. The airplane was about 10 to 15 feet above ground level when the right wing suddenly went up in the air and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane pivoted around on the left wing and the airplane came to rest inverted. The witness stated that it sounded like the engine revved as the event started. The witness estimated the winds were gusting at about 10 to 15 knots from the pilots left side, and the airport flag was straight out.

The airport manager reported that at the time of the accident the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) was out of service. The manager estimated that the winds were from 290 degrees at seven to eight knots, and gusting.