Cessna 180H accident near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, October 19, 2015
On October 19, 2015 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1972 Cessna 180H, registered N9780G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Joe Foss Field). 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 decision to land with a 20 knot direct cross wind, which resulted in a loss of directional control and the right wing impacting terrain and a subsequent ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 2015 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota · Joe Foss Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180H H, built 1972 · all 180Hs on the register
- Registration
- N9780G · registry record · serial 18052280
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he received information Papa prior to landing, information Papa was wind 240 degrees at 20 knots, and he was landing on runway 33. He reported that it "occurred" to him that it was a 20 knot direct crosswind. The pilot reported that while landing in crosswind conditions, he was "holding extreme" left aileron to compensate for the crosswind. He reported that as the airplane touched down, a gust lifted the left wing, and he was "unable to keep it down" with aileron control inputs. Subsequently the right wing impacted the runway, and the airplane ground looped. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron. According to the manufacturer, the accident airplane's Owner's Manual does not specify a demonstrated maximum crosswind component, however a similar make and model airplane's Pilot Operating Handbook specifies a maximum demonstrated crosswind component of 12 knots.
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 in flight during landing defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- 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
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,180 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 20, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 2015
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 625 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9V9 Chamberlain SD at 8:15 pm
- Destination: FSD Sioux Falls SD
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from KFSD, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 24, 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 | Pilot Statement to FAA (Courtesy of Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | 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.