Cessna 180K accident near Cahokia, Illinois, June 26, 2010
On June 26, 2010 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 180K, registered N2785K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Cahokia, Illinois (St Louis Downtown Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fatigue failure of the axle's attaching bolts during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2010 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cahokia, Illinois · St Louis Downtown Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180K · all 180Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2785K · registry record · serial 18053067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had a normal stabilized descent on his approach to land and flared about 50 feet above the runway before making a three-point touchdown. He said that during the roll the airplane tracked to the right and that he applied left rudder in response. He then heard a "bang" and the airplane moved abruptly and uncontrollably. The left wing and horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage when they contacted the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wheel and axle separated from its main landing gear. Two of the four bolts that attach the axle to the gear exhibited a separation consistent with fatigue.
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
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing defining event
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 423 hours in all; 363 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 349 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 14, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,005 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 24, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 3,190 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H88 Fredericktown MO at 9:45 pm
- Destination: CPS Cahokia IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12R, 6,997 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from CPS, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N2785K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.