Cessna 180J accident near Necedah, Wisconsin, May 10, 1999
On May 10, 1999 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180J, registered N59DW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Necedah, Wisconsin (Necedah airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain compensation for the wind conditions. A factor was the gusting tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1999 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Necedah, Wisconsin · Necedah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N59DW · no longer on the register · serial 18052649
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was back taxiing for departure on Runway 18 (2700 feet by 60 feet, dry/asphalt. The pilot stated that, as he taxied near the area adjacent to the hangers on the east side of the runway, the aircraft turned abruptly to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder and the aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted attitude. A weather report, for a reporting station located 25 miles and 28 degrees magnetic from the accident site, reported winds from 100 degrees magnetic at 16 knots gusting to 23 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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,490 hours in all; 1,068 in this make and model; 211 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,547 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 25, 1998; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 16 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from ISW, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N59DW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.