Cessna 180H accident near Ukiah, California, July 18, 1992
On July 18, 1992 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Cessna 180H, registered N2499F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ukiah, California (Ukiah Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ABORTED LANDING AND INITIAL CLIMB-OUT. THE PILOT'S IMPROPER LANDING FLARE, THE INADVERTENT PORPOISE, AND HIS IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1992 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Ukiah, California · Ukiah Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180H · all 180Hs on the register
- Registration
- N2499F · registry record · serial 18051701
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A GROUND WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCE TWICE ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR DURING A 'WHEEL LANDING' AND THEN CRAB INTO THE WIND DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT APPLIED POWER AND INITIATED A GO-AROUND. HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE CLIMB AND THE AIRCRAFT TURNED LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRES THAT ARE PARALLEL TO AND LOCATED BETWEEN 300 TO 400 FEET EAST OF THE RUNWAY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,459 hours in all; 23 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,227 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,754 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 9, 1991; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 048 Little River CA
- Destination: UKI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,415 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from UKI, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.