NTSB WPR25LA132 — 2025-04-10 · Oakland, California, United States

Current FAA registration · N7779K

Make / Model: CESSNA 180J
Year of manufacture: 1976 · 49 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines: 6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19760616
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AA86A5

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N7779K Cessna 180J None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff roll with a left crosswind.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during a takeoff roll in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he observed a left crosswind. As the tail lifted off the runway, the airplane veered left, and he subsequently applied full right rudder pedal. As the airplane approached the left edge of the runway, he applied pressure to the right brake, and the airplane ground looped to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was departing runway 33 with wind from 260° at 13 knots. 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-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Effect on operation
— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2025_WPR25LA132.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.