Cessna 180H accident near Frostproof, Florida, April 3, 1987
On April 3, 1987 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Cessna 180H, registered N9731G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frostproof, Florida (River Ranch 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 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
- April 3, 1987 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Frostproof, Florida · River Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180H · all 180Hs on the register
- Registration
- N9731G · no longer on the register · serial 18052231
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON TOUCHDOWN THE RT LANDING GEAR TIRE BLEW DUE TO THE SIDE LOAD PLACED UPON IT AFTER THE ACFT WAS BLOWN SIDEWAYS BY THE DIRECT CROSSWIND. THE LANDING GEAR WAS THEN SHEARED OFF, AFTER WHICH, THE ACFT SLID OFF THE RWY INTO THE GRASS & CAME TO REST.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 100 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 581 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OPF Miami FL at 7:45 pm
- Destination: 1
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 4,950 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from MLB, 37 miles away
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.