Cessna 180J accident near Arlington, Washington, May 7, 2021
On May 7, 2021 at about 11:05 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna 180J, registered N31B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Arlington, Washington (Arlington Muni 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 landing, with a crosswind, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2021 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Washington · Arlington Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J, built 1974 · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N31B · registry record · serial 18052431
- 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 before landing, the automated weather report for the airport indicated the wind from 250o at 13 knots, gusting to 17 knots. During the landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane on runway 29, the airplane weathervaned hard to the left into the wind. Despite his actions to control the airplane during the crosswind landing, the airplane departed the runway, and both wings impacted terrain. The airplane came to rest in a nose down attitude. The right wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that shortly after the accident, the wind had increased to 23 knots. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,000 hours in all; 2,050 in this make and model; 215 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 20,109 as pilot in command; 1,900 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,242 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2020; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 11,242 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11/2, 3,498 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from KAWO
Weather report (METAR): KAWO 072256Z AUTO 28008G15KT 10SM BKN037 13/04 A3026 RMK AO2 SLP252 T01280044
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 3, 2021. 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, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Faa-photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | 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.