Cessna 180 accident near Arco, Idaho, May 18, 2026
On May 18, 2026 at about 3:10 pm local time, a 1954 Cessna 180, registered N2479C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Arco, Idaho (Arco-Butte County 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with a right crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2026 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Arco, Idaho · Arco-Butte County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180, built 1954 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N2479C · registry record · serial 30779
- 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 a full-stop landing with a right crosswind, the airplane touched down and the right wing lifted. The pilot attempted a go-around, however, realized the airplane was too slow for a go-around and effective recovery, and reduced power to idle. Subsequently, the airplane veered to the right and ground looped. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing strut and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot reported that he was landing on runway 24 with wind from 330° at 18 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 landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion 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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,540.5 hours in all; 679.2 in this make and model; 100.4 in the last 90 days; 41.2 in the last 30 days; 5,480.1 as pilot in command; 76.2 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 4, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,512.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 25, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-S2B (piston); 1,804 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLD Malad ID at 2:14 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 6,610 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 18 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 3:02 pm from KOAC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR26LA195.