Cessna 180K accident near Show Low, Arizona, June 15, 1988
On June 15, 1988 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 180K, registered N2509K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Show Low, Arizona (Show Low 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1988 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Show Low, Arizona · Show Low Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180K · all 180Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2509K · registry record · serial 18052962
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF IN HIS CONVENTIONAL GEAR ACFT USING RWY 21. THE LOCAL WIND WAS ESTIMATED AT 180 DEGREES, 15 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 35 KNOTS. THE PLT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER ROTATING FOR TAKEOFF 'A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT US & THREW US APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET UP IN THE AIR.' THE PLT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL HIS ACFT & IT STALLED. THE ACFT BOUNCED HARD THREE TIMES ON THE RWY UNTIL FINALLY THE LANDING GEAR BROKE AND THE WING STRUCK THE GROUND.
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: 723 hours in all; 486 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 839 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1988; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Wellton AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,928 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 35
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.