Cessna 180A accident near Nordman, Idaho, April 4, 2024
On April 4, 2024 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1958 Cessna 180A, registered N5281D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Nordman, Idaho (Priest Lake Usfs airport). It was an instructional 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
Maintenance personnel's improper installation of the left main landing gear wheel assembly, which resulted in a loss of torque and subsequent separation of the wheel and axle assembly from the main landing gear leg during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 2024 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Nordman, Idaho · Priest Lake Usfs · 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
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he was receiving flight instruction and was practicing landings in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. During a power-off approach, the throttle was set to idle and carburetor heat was applied. As the airplane approached short final, both pilots observed an increased sink rate and the flight instructor called for additional power. Although power was increased, the engine briefly hesitated before full power was requested again. The flight instructor adjusted pitch and power, which resulted in a firm touchdown with a minimal bounce. Upon touchdown, the left wheel and axle assembly separated from the left main landing gear leg. The landing gear leg struck the grass surface and the left main landing gear leg fractured at the fuselage end. The airplane slid on the left wing and right main landing gear wheel before it came to rest 180° opposite the direction of landing. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear axle assembly had separated; the landing gear attachment bolts remained in place, however, the attachment nuts were not present. Following a search of the accident area, the nuts were not recovered. Metallurgical examination of the fractured landing gear leg revealed features consistent with inboard bending overstress. Although the separation occurred after the wheel and axle assembly detached, the fracture surface exhibited a fatigue crack that had originated from a corrosion pit on the outboard surface of the leg which had been painted over. The corrosion pitting indicated that either the corrosion was not observed or ignored during the last overhaul or landing gear exchange when the floats were removed and the airplane wheels reinstalled. Improper maintenance of the attachment bolts during assembly on the left main landing gear axle likely left them loosely secure, which produced inadequate thread engagement; unable to sustain the stress of landing loads, the bolts failed, which caused the wheel assembly to separate 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
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › (general) › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › (general) › (general) › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 326 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 218 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 17, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,300 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 4,700 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 23, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,611.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 2024; 3.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 303 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,400 ft by 175 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 14 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.63 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from KSZT, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSZT 042055Z AUTO 03014G17KT 10SM CLR 10/01 A2963
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on April 15, 2026. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 Instructor | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Service Manual P5-6 Main Gear M180 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 23 pages | 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 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.