Cessna 180M accident near Chisholm, Minnesota, July 30, 2006
On July 30, 2006 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Cessna 180M, registered N3336T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chisholm, Minnesota. 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind condition. A factor associated with the accident was the gusty wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2006 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chisholm, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180M · all 180Ms on the register
- Registration
- N3336T · registry record · serial 18051494
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The float equipped airplane cart wheeled in the water during a landing in gusty wind conditions. The pilot reported that after a 45 minute flight, they arrived at their destination lake and the winds were out of the south-southwest at 20 knots, gusting to 28 knots. He reported that he circled the lake and made a short field landing approach to the southeast at 70 miles per hour with 30 degrees of flaps. The pilot reported that just prior to touchdown, a gust of wind lifted the right wing and the airplane ballooned. He said he applied opposite aileron and added power, but the right float touched the water first pulling the right wing down into the water. The airplane then cart wheeled coming to rest inverted. The nearest weather reporting station was located approximately 12 miles north of the accident location. The winds recorded 23 minutes after the accident were from 150 degrees at 19 knots, gusting to 28 knots. The winds recorded 23 minutes prior to the accident were from 140 degrees at 21 knots, gusting to 29 knots. The winds recorded 1 hour and 37 minutes prior to the accident were from 120 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 24 knots.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 221 hours in all; 147 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 145 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Ely MN at 7:45 pm
- Destination: Chisholm MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 19 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from HIB
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.