Cessna 180 accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada, July 3, 1999
On July 3, 1999, a Cessna 180, registered N180HW, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Las Vegas, Nevada (North Las Vegas airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the existing crosswind condition and maintain directional control of the aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1999
- Place
- North Las Vegas, Nevada · North Las Vegas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N180HW · no longer on the register · serial 31545
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the aviation surface weather observations, the reported winds at the time of the accident were from 180 degrees at 15 knots. The METAR at 1556, about 1 hour prior to the accident, reported winds from 180 degrees at 18 knots. No variability in the wind direction was recorded in the variability column of the Department of Commerce Form MF1M-10C. The local controller noted that at the time he cleared the airplane for takeoff he provided the updated wind information of from 180 degrees at 12 knots. The pilot stated that he was directed by tower to use runway 25. He noted that the wind was variable between 120 degrees and 150 degrees. He was cleared for takeoff and noted the windsock was 90 degrees to the runway. He stated that he waited until the wind shifted around favoring runway 25 and as soon as it did, he initiated the takeoff roll. As the tail started to lift off the runway, the airplane was hit with a 'very violent' gust of wind, which lifted the wing and nosed the airplane over.
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: 1,648 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,134 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 1999; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VGT
- Destination: SBP San Luis Obispo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,004 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.