Cessna 180 accident near Big Creek, Idaho, June 21, 2010
On June 21, 2010 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N2350C, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Big Creek, Idaho (Mile Hi 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 maintain directional control while taxiing at an unfamiliar airstrip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2010 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Big Creek, Idaho · Mile Hi · 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
- N2350C · registry record · serial 30650
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while taxiing a tail wheel-equipped airplane down a slope the airplane began to slide sideways and the empennage turned downslope. Despite the pilot’s control inputs, the empennage reached approximately a 90-degree angle to the desired direction and the airplane tipped to the left. During the accident sequence, damage was incurred to the left wing and left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident. The pilot stated the accident could have been prevented by obtaining more knowledge concerning the airstrip.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during taxi defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 9,775 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 3,656 as pilot in command; 323 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 3, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,681 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 18, 2009; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I08 Big Creek ID at 2:55 pm
- Destination: N/A Big Creek ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 600 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from KSMN, 54 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.