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Atlas / NTSB / FTW90LA068

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event FTW90LA068

1990-02-11 AUSTIN, Texas, United States Airport · AUS None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N52035

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 180J

Year of manufacture

1974 · 16 years old at event

Engine

CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)

Seats / Engines

6 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19740502

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A68BCD

Registrant of record

CHANCELLOR J W

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING A DOWNWIND LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE AIRPLANE.

Factual narrative

AIRCRAFT VEERED HARD NOSE LEFT ON TOUCHDOWN DURING LANDING WITH A 150 DEGREE, 5 KNOT, RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND. THE PILOT, WHO HAD 6 HOURS IN THE MAKE AND MODEL, STATED THAT APPLICATION OF FULL RIGHT RUDDER HAD NO EFFECT AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. A PREVIOUS TAIL WHEEL SHIMMY COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED BY THE PILOT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND CABLE SYSTEM DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF FAILURE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_FTW90LA068.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.