Skip to content

Atlas / NTSB / WPR25LA132

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR25LA132

2025-04-10 Oakland, California, United States Airport · OAK None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N7779K

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

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

Registrant of record

SEVENTY SIX JULIET LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

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

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