Cessna 180J accident near Kamiah, Idaho, August 1, 2025
On August 1, 2025 at about 1:43 am local time, a 1974 Cessna 180J, registered N52175, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Kamiah, Idaho (Flying Elk 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 loss of airplane control following an encounter with a microburst during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2025 · about 1:43 am local time
- Place
- Kamiah, Idaho · Flying Elk · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180J, built 1974 · all 180Js on the register
- Registration
- N52175 · registry record · serial 18052538
- 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 at the time of rotation, the airplane encountered a microburst or strong crosswind that rolled the airplane aggressively to the right, causing the wingtip to drag on the runway. The airplane exited the runway and struck a ditch, where it cartwheeled and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the tail section. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was taking off on runway 17. The pilot stated that at the time of takeoff, the wind was from 140° to 150° at 5 to 10 miles per hour, with a thunderstorm about 20 miles east. At the time the airplane encountered the crosswind from a microburst the pilot estimated the wind was from 090° at 40 to 45 miles per hour. The airport was not equipped with weather reporting facilities; however, a weather reporting station was located about 40 miles southeast reported about 5 minutes after the accident, wind from 210° at 14 knots, gusting to 29 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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
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 › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Microburst › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,798 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 1,678 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 28, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,699.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 25, 2025; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,190 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Northpoint XP (piston); 280 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 14 knots, gusting 29
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from KP69, 25 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KP69 010052Z AUTO 21014G29KT 30/09 A2992 RMK AO1 PK WND 22029/0051 PRESRR SLP113 T03000094 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures 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 October 17, 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.