Cessna 180K accident near Douglas, Wyoming, August 21, 2000
On August 21, 2000 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 180K, registered N61782, was substantially damaged in an accident near Douglas, Wyoming (Converse County 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
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during landing roll. Factors were high winds and crosswinds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2000 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Douglas, Wyoming · Converse County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180K · all 180Ks on the register
- Registration
- N61782 · registry record · serial 18052798
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing roll at the completion of a cross-country flight, the aircraft departed the left side of the runway and the right wing sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground. The landing was being made on runway 5 and the wind was from 010 degrees magnetic heading at 27 knots with gusts to 34 knots. This produced a calculated direct crosswind of 17 knots with a direct crosswind of 23 knots during peak gusts. In accordance with this aircraft's certification requirements established in 14 CFR Part 23, published crosswind limitations are not required. The demonstrated crosswind capability listed in the operating handbook is 12 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
- Flight time: 434 hours in all; 376 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 434 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,928 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 1999; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Chugwater WY
- Destination: DGW
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 4,760 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 27 knots, gusting 34
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
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.