Cessna 180E accident near Cedar City, Utah, January 17, 1982
On January 17, 1982 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna 180E, registered N2600Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cedar City, Utah (Swains Creek 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 1982 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar City, Utah · Swains Creek
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180E · all 180Es on the register
- Registration
- N2600Y · registry record · serial 18051100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE INTENDED TO FLY CLOSE TO THE FIELD SURFACE DRAGGING THE TAILWHEEL OF THE AIRCRAFT TO DETERMINE SNOW/FIELD CONDITIONS. DURING THE LOW PASS HE USED THREE NOTCHES OF FLAP AND ADDED FULL POWER WITH THE PROPELLER AT FULL PITCH. WHEN THE TAILWHEEL MADE CONTACT WITH THE SNOW IT PULLED THE MAIN WHEELS INTO THE SNOW AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,534 hours in all; 722 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,342 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: No. Las Vegas NV at 12:30 pm
- Destination: Swains Creek UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 104°F (40°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.