Cessna 180J accident near Mccall, Idaho, May 28, 2024
On May 28, 2024 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1975 Cessna 180J, registered N275DM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Mccall, Idaho (Mc Call 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 the landing roll with a gusty right crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2024 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mccall, Idaho · Mc Call 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 1975 · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N275DM · registry record · serial 18052558
- 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 upon touchdown the airplane immediately began to swing to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with left rudder and brake, however, the airplane ground looped to the right. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunction with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot was landing on runway 16 at the time of the accident, and with wind from 200° at 7 knots, gusting to 19 knots.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,225 hours in all; 290 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 15, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,307 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 2024; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,190 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 426 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RBL Red Bluff CA at 5:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16/3, 6,101 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 9 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from KMYL
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMYL 281951Z AUTO 25009KT 10SM BKN110 21/03 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP131 T02110033=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 22, 2024. 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 | Photo | PDF, 1 page · our copy | 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.