Cessna 180 accident near Fullerton, California, January 14, 2011
On January 14, 2011, a Cessna 180, registered N1630C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Fullerton, California (Fullerton Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 2011
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N1630C · registry record · serial 30330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot set up for a three-point landing and the airplane touched down with a slight bounce; however, he felt like the airplane stabilized as he continued the landing rollout. The airplane then veered to the left and he was unable to correct the diversion with rudder and aileron inputs. He applied power, but realized immediately that the addition of power would not help at this point. The pilot then reduced the power, stepped on the brakes, and applied maximum right rudder pedal. This resulted in the airplane pivoting to the right, and the right landing gear shearing off. The pilot felt that this was due to excessive side load. The airplane contacted a runway sign and came to rest facing the runway with the right wing tip on the ground. The airframe and right wing sustained substantial damage.
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 landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 642 hours in all; 298 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,784 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Delaney Family Trust
The flight
- Departed from: F70 Temecula CA at 11:20 pm
- Destination: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:14 pm from KFUL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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 N1630C 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.