Cessna 180 accident near Panama City, Florida, November 10, 2017
On November 10, 2017 at about 5:05 pm local time, a 1956 Cessna 180, registered N6547A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Panama City, Florida (Northwest Florida Beaches Intl 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain lateral/bank control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2017 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City, Florida · Northwest Florida Beaches Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 UNDESIGNAT, built 1956 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N6547A · no longer on the register · serial 32444
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll in gusting crosswind conditions, the right wing "suddenly" lifted, and he applied right aileron to correct. He added that the control application did not correct the raised right wing and that the left wing dragged on the runway, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported in the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report that the wind was from 020° at 6 knots, gusting to 17 knots. He added that the landing was on runway 34. An automated weather observation station at the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 010° at 13 knots, gusting to 17 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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
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 › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 388 hours in all; 261 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 388 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 7, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,188.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470-R15B (piston); 360 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GKT Sevierville TN at 2:16 pm
- Destination: ECP Panama City FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 10,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 5:13 pm from KECP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N6547A the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.