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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 1991 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Scottsbluff, Nebraska · Heilig · 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
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI91LA158.