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CEN12LA168

2012-02-21 · Conroe, Texas, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport CXO

Current FAA registration · N3SM

Make / Model
CESSNA 180H
Year of manufacture
1964 · 48 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19641222
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A31C3C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed intervention and the pilot’s lack of experience in tailwheel airplanes.

Factual narrative

On February 21, 2012, about 1715 central standard time, a Cessna 180H, N3SM, ground looped during landing on runway 14 at Lone Star Executive Airport (CXO), Conroe, Texas. The airline transport pilot (ATP) and a private pilot were uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar, left elevator, and stabilizer. The airplane was registered to and operated by the (ATP) pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight that departed from CXO about 1630. The right seat pilot held an airline transport pilot and flight instructor certificates and was a friend of the left seat pilot who held a private pilot certificate. The right seat pilot had a tailwheel endorsement. The left seat pilot did not have a tailwheel endorsement. The right seat pilot said that they departed on a personal flight that remained in the local area. About 45 minutes after departure, they returned to CXO to practice landings. The left seat pilot performed the first landing and subsequent takeoff, which was "normal." During the second landing by the left seat pilot, the airplane veered "sharply" off the runway centerline. The right seat pilot took the controls from the left seat pilot and was unable to regain directional control of the airplane. The left wingtip contacted the runway, and the airplane ground looped. During a personal flight, the flight instructor, who occupied the right seat, allowed the private pilot, who occupied the left seat, to practice landings in the tailwheel airplane. During the second landing, the airplane veered sharply off the runway centerline. The flight instructor took over the controls but was unable to regain directional control of the airplane. The left wingtip contacted the runway, and the airplane ground looped. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • F Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Instructor/check pilot - F
  • F Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total experience w/ equipment-Pilot - F

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_CEN12LA168.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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