Cessna 180K accident near Clovis, New Mexico, February 4, 2001
On February 4, 2001, a Cessna 180K, registered N180PG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clovis, New Mexico (Clovis Municipal 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 directional control, which resulted in the subsequent swerve of the airplane. Contributing factors were the pilot's lack of experience in make and model and his diverted attention while attempting to adjust the trim.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 2001
- Place
- Clovis, New Mexico · Clovis Municipal · 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
- N180PG · registry record · serial 18053135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot, and sole occupant, was practicing touch-and-go landings and after landing and applying full power for take-off, as he attempted to adjust the trim. The airplane swerved to the left, and then hopped. The right main landing gear collapsed causing the prop and right wing to strike the runway. Then it swerved to the left side of the runway and stopped. The right wing outboard of the wing strut was bent up approximately 40 degrees. The right main landing gear, the fuselage between the landing gear attachment points and the propeller were also damaged. At the time of the accident, the pilot had 54 hours total time, 27 hours as pilot in command, 9 hours in make and model, and 4 hours within the last 30 and 90 days.
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: 54 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 27 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 24, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,898 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2001; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-50 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCVN Clovis NM at 3:15 pm
- Destination: KCVN Clovis NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 6,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KCVN
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.