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Atlas / NTSB / WPR14CA241

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR14CA241

2014-06-07 Hesperia, California, United States Airport · L26 None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N73BT

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 180H

Year of manufacture

1965 · 49 years old at event

Engine

CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)

Seats / Engines

6 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19890501

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A9C8DD

Registrant of record

DRAGGING TAILS LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing roll in the tail wheel equipped airplane, while about 35 miles per hour (MPH), it began to turn to the right. He was able to bring the airplane back to runway centerline with opposite rudder control; however, the airplane again quickly turned right to which he was unable to regain control by applying rudder and brakes. The airplane subsequently tipped on to the left main landing gear which resulted in the left wing and horizontal stabilizer to strike the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that during the landing roll in the tail wheel equipped airplane, while about 35 miles per hour (MPH), it began to turn to the right. He was able to bring the airplane back to runway centerline with opposite rudder control; however, the airplane again quickly turned right to which he was unable to regain control by applying rudder and brakes. The airplane subsequently tipped on to the left main landing gear which resulted in the left wing and horizontal stabilizer to strike the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2014_WPR14CA241.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.