Cessna 180H accident near Kalispell, Montana, October 12, 2021
On October 12, 2021 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1964 Cessna 180H, registered N926LL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Kalispell, Montana (Glacier Park International Air 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 a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2021 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kalispell, Montana · Glacier Park International Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180H, built 1964 · all 180Hs on the register
- Registration
- N926LL · no longer on the register · serial 18051470
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right, exited the runway, and contacted terrain. The left wing, left aileron, left horizontal stabilizer, and elevator sustained substantial damage. Examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation; however, the alignment of the main landing gear could not be determined due to the separation of the left main landing gear. Several days before the accident, the airplane had undergone maintenance during which the tires, wheels and brakes were replaced. According to the supplemental type certificate (STC) for the new tires, the tundra tires reduce the directional stability and controllability, and increase the tendency to ground loop during takeoff and landing ground rolls. Based on the available information, the circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
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
- Runway excursion 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,922 hours in all; 294 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 1,555 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 4, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,500.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 4,007 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CEG3 Lacombe OF at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 02, 9,007 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from KGPI, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGPI 121855Z 08005KT 10SM CLR 08/M08 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP216 T00781078
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on March 22, 2023. 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 | Airframe and Engine Examination Report for WPR22LA016 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Mechanic's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Controller in Charge Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | FAA STC and Aml Excerpts | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | FAA Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | FAA Notes on Wreckage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Airframe Logbook Excerpt | 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.
Other NTSB records under N926LL 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.