Cessna 180B accident near Akron, Colorado, July 12, 1990
On July 12, 1990 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180B, registered N59KM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Akron, Colorado (Washington CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT A SWERVE DURING LANDING ROLL. A FACTOR WAS WIND GUSTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1990 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Akron, Colorado · Washington CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180B · all 180Bs on the register
- Registration
- N59KM · registry record · serial 50590
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT NOTICED OIL ON THE WINDSCREEN, AND RETURNED FOR LANDING. DURING LANDING ROLL, A GUST PUSHED THE PLANE OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT. THE PLANE GROUND LOPPED, SHEARED THE LEFT MAIN GEAR, NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE VERTICAL STABILIZER, TAIL SECTION AND BOTH WINGS WERE DAMAGED.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,700 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,240 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AKO at 3:00 pm
- Destination: RAPE Rapid City SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N59KM 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.