Cessna 180K accident near Pearland, Texas, May 1, 2015
On May 1, 2015 at about 2:40 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna 180K, registered N66048, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Pearland, Texas (Pearland Rgnl airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 2015 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Pearland, Texas · Pearland Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180K H, built 1977 · all 180Ks on the register
- Registration
- N66048 · no longer on the register · serial 18052913
- 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 during the takeoff roll, the tail of the airplane began to lift, and an increasing amount of right rudder was required to maintain directional control and he believed that the airplane was at the beginning stages of a ground loop. The pilot reported that he applied full right rudder with a "stab" of right brake, the airplane stopped going to the left, and the right main wheel "snagged" the edge of a ditch and spun the airplane to the right, which resulted in substantial damage to the right aileron and wing. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- 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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,701 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,494 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 17, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,633 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,605 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 3,633 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVJ Houston TX at 2:40 pm
- Destination: RQO El Reno OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,313 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KLVJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 29, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Email (Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1 - Right Aileron (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2 - Right Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 3 - Airplane (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.