Cessna 180 accident near Young, Arizona, November 22, 1990
On November 22, 1990 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N2574K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Young, Arizona (Plesant Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT SELECTED THE WRONG RUNWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND WITH A TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made September 29, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 1990 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Young, Arizona · Plesant Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N2574K · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED PAYSON ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT. UPON ARRIVING OVER PLEASANT VALLEY AIRSTRIP THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WINDSOCK WAS WRAPPED DOWNWARD AROUND THE POLE INDICATING THAT A CALM WIND EXISTED. THE PILOT INITIATED AN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 22. GND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDING DOWNWIND AND TOO FAST. REALIZING THAT A TAILWIND EXISTED THE PLT BEGAN A GO-AROUND AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT ANY MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES, BUT HE STATED THAT A GUST OF WIND CAUSED AIRPLANE TO WEATHERVANE TO THE RIGHT AND STRIKE THE GROUND BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE TREES. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PREVAILING WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTHEAST BETWEEN 10 - 15 KNOTS.
The NTSB's narratives can run to many pages; this is the opening. Read the full report at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database and is rewritten in plain English only where the NTSB used codes; the probable cause and narrative are the NTSB's own words. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX91LA041.