Cessna 180A accident near Nampa, Idaho, May 13, 2014
On May 13, 2014 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1958 Cessna 180A, registered N5281D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Nampa, Idaho (Nampa Municipal 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 during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2014 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Nampa, Idaho · Nampa Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180A, built 1958 · all 180As on the register
- Registration
- N5281D · registry record · serial 50179
- 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, after an uneventful approach to the runway, he conducted a tail-low, three-point landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. About 30 ft into the landing roll, the airplane suddenly turned sharply right and ground looped. Subsequently, the landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground. Postaccident examination of the tailwheel revealed that, although it was heavily worn, it castered freely. No evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure of the tailwheel was found 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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Ground collision 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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 4,060 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 28, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,306 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 2014; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 1,398 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MAN Nampa ID at 8:15 pm
- Destination: MAN Nampa ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from MAN
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.
Other NTSB records under N5281D 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.