Cessna 180J accident near Oakland, California, April 10, 2025
On April 10, 2025 at about 9:43 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna 180J, registered N7779K, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Oakland, California (San Francisco Bay Oakland Intl 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 takeoff roll with a left crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2025 · about 9:43 pm local time
- Place
- Oakland, California · San Francisco Bay Oakland Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J, built 1976 · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N7779K · registry record · serial 18052728
- 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 during a takeoff roll in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he observed a left crosswind. As the tail lifted off the runway, the airplane veered left, and he subsequently applied full right rudder pedal. As the airplane approached the left edge of the runway, he applied pressure to the right brake, and the airplane ground looped to the right. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was departing runway 33 with wind from 260° at 13 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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 536 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 484 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 19, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,191.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 28, 2025; 16.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,190 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-50 (piston); 3,191 hours total
The flight
- Destination: O27 Oakdale CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15/3, 3,376 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KOAK
Weather report (METAR): KOAK 102153Z 28012KT 10SM FEW180 BKN250 18/11 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP238 T01830111
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of damage to left wing
Photograph 2 – View of damage to the left wing and aileronThe 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 July 3, 2025. 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 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · 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.