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Atlas / NTSB / WPR10CA246

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR10CA246

2010-05-19 Renton, Washington, United States Airport · KRNT None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N66033

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 180K

Year of manufacture

1977 · 33 years old at event

Engine

CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)

Seats / Engines

4 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19840724

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A8B716

Registrant of record

SCHWARZ WESLEY E

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, resulting in the loss of directional control during the landing roll.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was attempting a full stop landing in variable gusty wind conditions. Although he was able to successfully touchdown on the main landing gear, as he was lowering the tailwheel to the runway surface, a gust of wind lifted the airplane's right wing. The airplane then began to weather vane to the right. The pilot attempted to realign the airplane with the runway, but he eventually lost directional control, whereupon the airplane's left wing struck the runway surface and was bent upward. The pilot of the tail wheel-equipped airplane was attempting a full stop landing in variable gusty wind conditions. Although he was able to successfully touch down on the main landing gear, as he was lowering the tail wheel to the runway surface, a gust of wind lifted the airplane's right wing. The airplane then began to weather vane to the right. The pilot attempted to realign the airplane with the runway, but he eventually lost directional control, whereupon the airplane's left wing struck the runway surface and was bent upward. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
  • Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Variable wind-Contributed to outcome
  • Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_WPR10CA246.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.