Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 180 near Nampa, ID — 2012-09-14

Final reportWPR12LA418
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Date
2012-09-14
Location
Nampa, ID, USA
Airport
MAN
Aircraft
CESSNA 180
Registration
N90RW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

An uncommanded bank after takeoff followed by an aerodynamic stall. The reason for the uncommanded bank could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB narrative

The pilot receiving instruction reported that after he conducted a thorough preflight inspection, he and the flight instructor briefed a soft field takeoff; the pilot lowered the flaps to 20 degrees, positioned the airplane onto the runway, and started to take off. During the initial climb, when the airplane was about 30 feet above the ground, the pilot noticed that the airplane had a slight bank to the right. He glanced at the airspeed indicator, and he believed it read either 70 or 90 mph. He attempted to correct for the right bank; however, the airplane did not respond. The instructor took over the flight controls and immediately added full left rudder and aileron. The airplane initially started to bank toward the left before it rolled into a steep right bank of about 60 degrees and impacted terrain. Witnesses reported that the airplane appeared to be climbing normally, and then it seemed to “sink” and slow; the right wing lowered about 10 degrees before it dropped another 50 degrees, and subsequently impacted terrain. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies with the airframe that would have precluded normal operations. The reason for the uncommanded bank could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
CFI could have aborted the takeoff when the airplane banked to the right after liftoff.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 16 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents16

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