Cessna 180A accident near Danville, Kentucky, April 26, 1988
On April 26, 1988 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 180A, registered N9712B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Danville, Kentucky (Goodall Fld. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 1988 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Danville, Kentucky · Goodall Fld. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180A · all 180As on the register
- Registration
- N9712B · registry record · serial 50010
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT PERFORMED A WHEEL LANDING AND ATTEMPTED TO HOLD THE TAILWHEEL OFF THE RUNWAY SURFACE WITH NOSE DOWN ELEVATOR. THE RIGHT WING BEGAN TO LIFT AND THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT. REMEDIAL CONTROL INPUTS WERE MADE AND THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AXLE SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED THE ACFT TO GROUND LOOP TO THE LEFT. THERE WERE NO PREEXISTING MECHANICAL OR STRUCTURAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE ACFT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 431 hours in all; 26 in the last 90 days; 403 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.