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LAX03LA140

2003-04-22 · Angwin, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 2O3

Current FAA registration · N7821K

Make / Model
CESSNA 180J
Year of manufacture
1976 · 27 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19760913
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AA9A79

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll.

Factual narrative

On April 22, 2003, at 1430 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180J, N7821K, veered off the runway and collided with a ditch while landing at Angwin Airport, Angwin, California. The airplane was owned and operated by the private pilot under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Angwin at 1130. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he had received an airport advisory from another airplane that the airport was experiencing winds from the west and runway 16 was recommended. He stated that during the landing roll, with the tail of the airplane still airborne, a gust of wind forced the airplane to the right despite full rudder control input and braking to the left. The airplane veered off the runway to the right and came to rest nose down in a ditch. The closest aviation weather reporting station is at Sonoma County Airport, 18 miles to the southwest. The winds recorded at Sonoma Country Airport for 1353 and 1453 were calm. The pilot reported that the winds at Angwin, at the time of the accident, were 260 degrees at 5 to 10 knots. The airplane veered off the runway to the right and came to rest nose down in a ditch. The pilot had received an airport advisory from another airplane that the airport was experiencing a crosswind from the west and recommended runway 16. During the landing roll, with the tail still airborne, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right despite full rudder control input and braking by the pilot to the left. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2003_LAX03LA140.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.