Cessna 180H accident near Midland, Texas, April 17, 1985
On April 17, 1985 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 180H, registered N9054M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Texas (Midland 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 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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1985 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Midland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180H · all 180Hs on the register
- Registration
- N9054M · registry record · serial 18052154
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 108 HOUR PVT PLT HAD BEEN CHECKED OUT IN THE TAILDRAGGER ON THE DAY PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT. RETURNING FROM A LOCAL FLT, THE PLT REPORTED, HE LOST CONTROL DURING THE LANDING WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED A GUSTING X-WIND. THE WHEEL ASS'Y FAILED IN THE SUBSEQUENT SKIDDING OVERLOAD AND THE STRUT DUG INTO THE ASPHALT. THE ACFT ROLLED UP ON THE LEFT WING AND NOSE.
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: 108 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 64 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,179 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1984; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,975 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 16 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from MAF, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 FTW85LA187.