Cessna 180 accident near Winslow, Arizona, March 15, 1995
On March 15, 1995 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N1520C, was destroyed in an accident near Winslow, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's poor judgement by intentionally deciding to buzz.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 1995 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Winslow, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N1520C · registry record · serial 30220
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FLIGHT, A PASSENGER IN THE PILOT'S AIRPLANE USED A CELLULAR TELEPHONE TO CALL AN ACQUAINTANCE LOCATED AT A CURIO SHOP ADJACENT TO AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE PASSENGER INFORMED THE ACQUAINTANCE THAT HE WOULD FLY OVER THE ACQUAINTANCE'S LOCATION. THE AIRPLANE ARRIVED OVER THE LOCATION AND PROCEEDED FLYING AT A LOW ALTITUDE IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION PAST THE CURIO SHOP. SECONDS AFTER THE OCCUPANTS IN THE AIRPLANE WAVED AT THE ACQUAINTANCE, AND THE ACQUAINTANCE WAVED AT THE AIRPLANE OCCUPANTS, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A NORTH-SOUTH ORIENTED POWER LINE WHICH CROSSED OVER THE HIGHWAY. CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WAS LOST, AND IT CRASHED 480 FEET FROM THE ACQUAINTANCE. THE SEVERED POWER LINE WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 33 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.
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: 1,500 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 1,460 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGA Page AZ at 6:00 pm
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.