Cessna 180D accident near Shiprock, New Mexico, March 31, 2016
On March 31, 2016 at about 5:45 pm local time, a 1961 Cessna 180D, registered N180XV, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Shiprock, New Mexico (Shiprock Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after encountering a sudden change in wind direction during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 2016 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Shiprock, New Mexico · Shiprock Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180D, built 1961 · all 180Ds on the register
- Registration
- N180XV · no longer on the register · serial 18050998
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, shortly after he had completed a three-point landing, a left quartering tailwind gust caused the tailwheel-equipped airplane to veer to the right. The pilot was unable to regain directional control before the airplane departed the right side of the runway into a drainage ditch. The right main landing gear collapsed during the runway excursion, and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that, about 25 minutes before landing, he obtained the current weather conditions from the closest aviation weather station, which was located about 23 miles from the destination airport, and that the reported surface wind was from 200 degrees at 4 knots. A postaccident review of available weather data established that the surface wind was likely variable in direction at 5 knots. Although the surface wind was considered light and variable, a sudden change in wind direction shortly after touchdown likely contributed to the pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,700 hours in all; 800 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 29, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,308.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 23, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 5,221 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DRO Durango CO at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 5V5 Shiprock NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 4,840 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from FMN, 23 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 21, 2016. 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 |
| 2 | Pilot Statement (Joseph Tumminaro) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Passenger Statement (Ryan Arroyo) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Information | PDF, 2 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.