NTSB WPR24LA209 — 2024-06-22 · Chamberlain Guard Station, Idaho, United States

Current FAA registration · N4722B

Make / Model: CESSNA 180
Year of manufacture: 1955 · 69 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines: 4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19560611
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A5CB28

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N4722B Cessna 180 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff which resulted in a collision with a rodent hole and subsequent nose over.

Factual narrative

During the takeoff roll from a grass airstrip, the tailwheel-equipped airplane encountered a wind gust, which weathervaned the airplane to the left and off runway centerline. The left main landing gear wheel impacted a rodent hole, and the airplane nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facility Directory for the airport indicated the runway was 200 ft wide and in fair condition. However, postaccident examination of the runway surface revealed that though the center 20 to 25 ft of the runway was in good repair, however, outside of the center of the runway had “abundant grass growth” with some larger rodent holes. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
— Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Rough terrain-Effect on operation
— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_WPR24LA209.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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