WPR14LA205

Factual narrative

On May 13, 2014, about 1430 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 180A, N5281D, sustained substantial damage to the left wing during a ground loop at the Nampa Municipal Airport (MAN), Nampa, Idaho. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from MAN at about 1415. The pilot reported that after an uneventful approach to the runway, he landed the tailwheel equipped airplane in a tail low, three-point landing. About 30 feet into the landing roll the airplane suddenly turned sharply to the right and ground looped. Subsequently, the landing gear collapsed and the left wing impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the tailwheel by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the tailwheel was heavily worn; however, it castered freely, and no anomalies were noted. The pilot reported that, after an uneventful approach to the runway, he conducted a tail-low, three-point landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. About 30 ft into the landing roll, the airplane suddenly turned sharply right and ground looped. Subsequently, the landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the tailwheel revealed that, although it was heavily worn, it castered freely. No evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure of the tailwheel was found that would have precluded normal operation. 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