Cessna 180H accident near Hailey, Idaho, July 22, 2000
On July 22, 2000 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Cessna 180H, registered N2780X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hailey, Idaho (Hailey Friedmon Memorial 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
Failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2000 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Hailey, Idaho · Hailey Friedmon Memorial · 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
- N2780X · registry record · serial 180-51580
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a dry paved runway. The pilot reported that shortly after touchdown, during the landing roll, the airplanes right brake locked up and the airplane subsequently ground looped. After the accident, a certified mechanic functionally checked the aircraft's brakes and reported that the brakes functioned properly and that there was no evidence of a brake failure. At 1155 MDT, Hailey winds were from 200 degrees true at 12 knots.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,214 hours in all; 235 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 1,214 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,291 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 2000; 45 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: 3U2 Yellow Pine ID at 4:50 pm
- Destination: SUN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 6,602 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from SUN
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.
Other NTSB records under N2780X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.