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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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February 24, 1988 · Cessna 180A · N26AW

Prescott, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 24, 1988
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Prescott, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 180A
Tail Number
N26AW
Operator
Alex P Whitmore
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX88LA115

During the dual primary cross country flight, the student was making the approach and landing at Prescott. The CFI said that the approach and touchdown were normal, however, the aircraft began drifting to the right in a gradual turn as the aircraft slowed. The student's control inputs to correct the right turn were unsuccessful and the aircraft ground looped in the soft soil off the right side of the runway. The CFI stated that he 'probably waited too long to take the aircraft' from the student, whom he described as 'an excellent student.' Subsequent examination of the aircraft by a repair station revealed that the tail wheel steering pawl was broken and would only steer the aircraft to the right and would not engage to the left at all. Examination of the CFI's logbook revealed that he only had about 150 hours as a CFI. All of the student's flight time was accrued in Cessna 120 & 180 model aircraft.

Full Narrative

DURING THE DUAL PRIMARY CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE STUDENT WAS MAKING THE APPROACH AND LANDING AT PRESCOTT. THE CFI SAID THAT THE APPROACH AND TOUCHDOWN WERE NORMAL, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT IN A GRADUAL TURN AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED. THE STUDENT'S CONTROL INPUTS TO CORRECT THE RIGHT TURN WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED IN THE SOFT SOIL OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE CFI STATED THAT HE 'PROBABLY WAITED TOO LONG TO TAKE THE AIRCRAFT' FROM THE STUDENT, WHOM HE DESCRIBED AS 'AN EXCELLENT STUDENT.' SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY A REPAIR STATION REVEALED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL STEERING PAWL WAS BROKEN AND WOULD ONLY STEER THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE TO THE LEFT AT ALL. EXAMINATION OF THE CFI'S LOGBOOK REVEALED THAT HE ONLY HAD ABOUT 150 HOURS AS A CFI. ALL OF THE STUDENT'S FLIGHT TIME WAS ACCRUED IN CESSNA 120 & 180 MODEL AIRCRAFT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:40 MST
Nearest AirportLove Field (0nm N)
Runway3
Runway Length7608 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 180A
Tail NumberN26AW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAlex P Whitmore
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-470-K · Reciprocating · 230
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 42 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 8 kt
Visibility65 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 19 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data