Cessna 180 accident near Cameron Park, California, May 21, 2014
On May 21, 2014 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1954 Cessna 180, registered N2443C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Cameron Park, California (Cameron Airpark 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 which resulted in a ground-loop and nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2014 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cameron Park, California · Cameron Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 UNDESIGNAT, built 1954 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N2443C · no longer on the register · serial 30743
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo pilot was doing stop and go landings and takeoffs in the tailwheel-equipped airplane to become current. During the fourth landing, the pilot lost directional control, and the airplane ground-looped. During the ground-loop, the pilot applied excessive brake, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and the rudder. 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,690 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,690 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 4, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,712 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES (piston); 792 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O61 Cameron Park CA at 8:55 pm
- Destination: O61 Cameron Park CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,051 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
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 N2443C 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.