N61782

On August 20, 2000, at 1900 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180K, N61782, sustained substantial damage and the pilot was not injured when the right wing contacted the ground during a crosswind landing at Douglas, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this cross-country personal flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a private airstrip at Chugwater, Wyoming at 1820.

According to the pilot, when the flight arrived in the Douglas area he entered left traffic for a landing on runway 5. He said the wind was from the north and he maintained directional control for 300 to 400 hundred feet following touchdown and then lost directional control and the aircraft "weathervaned" to the left and departed the side of the runway. When the aircraft left the runway the right wing and propeller struck the ground.

Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector revealed both spar and rib damage to the outer portion of the right wing.

Recorded wind at the time of the accident was from 010 degrees magnetic heading at 27 knots with gusts to 34 knots. The direct steady state crosswind was computed to be 17 knots and the peak gusts produced a direct crosswind computed at 23 knots. According to the aircraft operating handbook, the demonstrated direct crosswind capability is 12 knots. In accordance with this aircraft's certification requirements established in 14 CFR Part 23, published crosswind limitations are not required.