Cessna 180K accident near Orange, Texas, December 30, 1991
On December 30, 1991 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Cessna 180K, registered N20489, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orange, Texas (Orange County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE RUPTURED LEFT MAIN GEAR TIRE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 1991 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Orange, Texas · Orange County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180K · all 180Ks on the register
- Registration
- N20489 · registry record · serial 18053189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TIRE RUPTURED RESULTING IN A NOSE OVER OF THE TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE ONTO THE RUNWAY SURFACE. NOTHING UNUSUAL WAS FOUND WITH THE CONDITION OF THE TIRE OR THE RIM BY THE FAA COORDINATOR.
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
- Flight time: 8,964 hours in all; 6,087 in this make and model; 148 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 8,964 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,012 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 1991; 274 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470U-18B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lion Oil Company
The flight
- Departed from: ELD El Dorado AR at 3:00 pm
- Destination: ORG Orange TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from BPT, 10 miles away
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.
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.