Cessna 180J accident near Austin, Texas, February 11, 1990
On February 11, 1990 at about 5:47 pm local time, a Cessna 180J, registered N52035, was substantially damaged in an accident near Austin, Texas (Austin Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING A DOWNWIND LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 1990 · about 5:47 pm local time
- Place
- Austin, Texas · Austin Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N52035 · registry record · serial 18052454
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRCRAFT VEERED HARD NOSE LEFT ON TOUCHDOWN DURING LANDING WITH A 150 DEGREE, 5 KNOT, RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND. THE PILOT, WHO HAD 6 HOURS IN THE MAKE AND MODEL, STATED THAT APPLICATION OF FULL RIGHT RUDDER HAD NO EFFECT AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. A PREVIOUS TAIL WHEEL SHIMMY COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED BY THE PILOT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND CABLE SYSTEM DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF FAILURE.
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: 246 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 190 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ERV Kerrville TX at 4:45 pm
- Destination: AUS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 7,270 ft by 130 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:52 pm from AUS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.