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Accidents · NTSB CHI92LA070 · Final report

Cessna 180H accident near Shenandoah, Iowa, November 14, 1991

On November 14, 1991 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180H, registered N2776X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shenandoah, Iowa (Shenandoah 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

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. AN ASSOCIATED FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OPERATION (CROSSWIND TAKEOFFS).

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
November 14, 1991 · about 5:00 pm local time
Place
Shenandoah, Iowa · Shenandoah · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 180H · all 180Hs on the register
Registration
N2776X · registry record · serial 18051576
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

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

THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF IN A QUARTERING LEFT CROSSWIND. HE SAID, 'I BELIEVE I PUSHED THE TAIL UP TOO SOON AND DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO COUNTER A GUST OF WIND WHICH PUSHED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED AS IT HIT THE PAVEMENT.'

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: 390 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 330 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: VFR
  • Runway 22, 4,100 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
  • Visibility: 3 statute miles
  • Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded at 2,000 ft
  • Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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 CHI92LA070.