Cessna 180J accident near Norfolk, Virginia, October 5, 2011
On October 5, 2011 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180J, registered N180RN, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Norfolk, Virginia (Hampton Rds Executive 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during takeoff for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 2011 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Norfolk, Virginia · Hampton Rds Executive Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N180RN · registry record · serial 18052561
- 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, as he started to taxi onto the runway, the airplane was difficult to turn. He thought that the tailwheel had not locked into position so he lined up on the center line of the runway and pulled forward to give the tailwheel time to lock into position. He then initiated the takeoff roll and lifted the tail as the airspeed increased. The airplane then pulled to the left, and the pilot applied right rudder, but the left main landing gear went off the left side of the runway. He immediately applied the brakes and reduced power to abort the takeoff; however, the airplane turned 90 degrees, struck a ditch, and the right main landing gear separated from the airplane. A postaccident examination of the brake system revealed no anomalies; however, the brakes could not be tested because the hydraulic system was breached. A nut was found separated from a right main landing gear attach bolt after the accident, but the investigation was unable to determine if the separated nut contributed to the airplane veering to the left during takeoff.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 390 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 5, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,498 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 3, 2010; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,190 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVG Norfolk VA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: ECG Elizabeth City NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 3,525 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from CPK, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA12LA016.