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Accidents · NTSB CHI91LA158 · Final report

Cessna 180 accident near Scottsbluff, Nebraska, May 19, 1991

On May 19, 1991 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N66266, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scottsbluff, Nebraska (Heilig 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

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A CROSSWIND CONDITION AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
May 19, 1991 · about 4:40 pm local time · cases in 1991
Place
Scottsbluff, Nebraska · Heilig · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
Registration
N66266 · registry record · serial 18052932
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER COMPLETING TWO TOUCH AND GOES, TO A FULL STOP, HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON THE THIRD LANDING. A GROUND LOOP ENSUED WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT WAS LANDING IN A 30 DEGREE CROSSWIND. THE PILOT HAD LOGGED 1.7 HOURS SOLO TIME IN THE TAIL WHEEL AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

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: 266 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 209 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: unk

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 12, 8,000 ft by 150 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 150° at 14 knots
  • Visibility: 15 statute miles
  • Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,800 ft
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
  • Observation at 3:52 pm from BFF, 1 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
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Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI91LA158.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.