Cessna 180 accident near Wenatchee, Washington, June 2, 2012
On June 2, 2012 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N3184D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Wenatchee, Washington (Pangborn Memorial 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 takeoff in a crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2012 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Wenatchee, Washington · Pangborn Memorial Airport · 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
- N3184D · registry record · serial 31982
- 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 during the takeoff ground roll with a left crosswind condition, the airplane began to swerve immediately after the tail came off the ground and the left wing rose. The pilot attempted to correct with aileron, rudder, and control stick inputs, but the airplane turned into the wind and the right wing and propeller contacted the ground. The airplane subsequently came to rest balanced on its right main landing gear, the propeller, and the right wing tip. The airplane's right wing and right aileron were substantially damaged as a result of impact damage with the runway surface. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,896 hours in all; 1,959 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,896 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 18, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,684 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 2012; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EAT Wenatchee WA at 8:20 pm
- Destination: S10 Chelan WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,500 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from EAT
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.
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.