Cessna 180H accident near Hesperia, California, June 7, 2014
On June 7, 2014 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1965 Cessna 180H, registered N73BT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Hesperia, California (Hesperia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2014 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hesperia, California · Hesperia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180H, built 1965 · all 180Hs on the register
- Registration
- N73BT · registry record · serial 18051606
- 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 landing roll in the tail wheel equipped airplane, while about 35 miles per hour (MPH), it began to turn to the right. He was able to bring the airplane back to runway centerline with opposite rudder control; however, the airplane again quickly turned right to which he was unable to regain control by applying rudder and brakes. The airplane subsequently tipped on to the left main landing gear which resulted in the left wing and horizontal stabilizer to strike the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron, horizontal stabilizer, and elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact 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
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 32,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 29,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 7, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,117 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2014; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 3,117 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAPV Apple Valley CA at 5:45 pm
- Destination: L26 Hesperia CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,910 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from KVCV, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on August 15, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot-operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1- Left Side Empennage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2- Left Horizontal Stabilizer | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo 3- Close Up Left Tip Horizontal Stabilizer | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photo 4- Upper View Left Horizontal Stabilizer | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 5- Left Elevator Damage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 6- Aft View Left Elevator Damage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Photo 7- Forward View Left Wing Tip Damage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photo 8- Close Up Aft View Left Wing Tip Damage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Photo 9 Top View Left Wing Tip Damage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Photo 10-AFT View Left Wing Tip Damage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.