Cessna 180J accident near Dixie, Idaho, July 26, 2015
On July 26, 2015 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna 180J, registered N52095, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (into takeoff position) near Dixie, Idaho (Wilson Bar Usfs airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the right brake hydraulic line during taxi due to fatigue, which caused a loss of hydraulic fluid and rendered the brake inoperative.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2015 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dixie, Idaho · Wilson Bar Usfs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J J, built 1974 · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N52095 · registry record · serial 18052496
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was conducting a nonscheduled passenger flight. The pilot reported that, while he was turning the airplane to align it with the runway for takeoff, the right brake failed. The pilot subsequently intentionally ground looped the airplane to avoid elevated terrain near the runway, during which the right wing struck terrain. Postaccident examination of the right brake hydraulic line revealed that it was cracked where the line bends between the fuselage and main landing gear leg. It is likely that the crack caused a hydraulic fluid leak, which rendered the brake inoperative. Metallurgical examination of the fracture surface revealed fatigue striations and ratchet mark formations, consistent with a fatigue fracture.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during taxi (into takeoff position) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during taxi (into takeoff position)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Hydraulic power system › (general) › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,900 hours in all; 120 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 2,800 as pilot in command; 105 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 28, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,547.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 29, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 3,190 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 3,537 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C48 Dixie ID at 2:30 pm
- Destination: BOI Boise ID
- Runway 06, 1,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from KP69, 53 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 N52095 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.