Cessna 180J accident near Wausau, Wisconsin, August 14, 2012
On August 14, 2012 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180J, registered N52187, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Wausau, Wisconsin (Wausau Downtown Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control during landing roll out, resulting in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was an unexpected crosswind wind gust.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2012 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wausau, Wisconsin · Wausau Downtown Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N52187 · registry record · serial 18052545
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After an uneventful 30-minute flight, the pilot set up the tail wheel equipped airplane for a full stop traffic pattern approach and landing. The pilot stated that he touched down normally on the dry asphalt runway heading 050 degrees. Nearing the end of roll out, a "huge" unexpected gust of wind (about 20-25 knots out of the west) lifted the left wing off the ground and pushed the tail to the right, causing the nose of airplane to face to the left. The pilot attempted to correct, but did not have enough rudder authority. The airplane then skidded to the left and went slightly off the left side of the runway. The right wing dug into dirt, resulting in structural damage to the outboard section of right wing. The pilot stated that he had checked the ATIS information just prior to landing, and the reported wind was 050 degrees at 10 knots with no gusts. Also, he stated that wind "T" indicated that the wind was from about 050 degrees. The pilot noted that he was very surprised when he encountered the crosswind gust on roll out. Shortly after the accident, the pilot demonstrated proficiency in crosswind landings during an FAA check flight.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 365 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 6, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,281 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 2012; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WI36 Lake Tomahawk WI at 3:30 pm
- Destination: AUW Wausau WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 3,041 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on June 26, 2013. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.